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While the Bill limits the number of agencies and people that can classif y inf ormation, it still gives powers to the Minister of State Security to give classif ication powers to other state bodies and junior of f icials without adequate public consultation. Cosatu has also objected. It says despite changes to the bill, its still open to allow just about any state inf ormation to be classif ied. Criminal liability for espionage Right2Know says it worried that people can be charged with espionage. receiving state inf ormation unlawf ully (to benef it a f oreign state) and hostile activity without proof that the accused intended to benef it a f oreign state or hostile group or prejudice national security. T he ACDP has also expressed its concern about what it sees as the low burden of proof placed on the state in cases of espionage. T his was an issue raised by Advocate George Bizos during the hearings, but opposition parties says it seems to have been ignored. Harsh sentences Right2Know has described the sentences f or transgressing the bill as draconian. T he Bill contains a maximum sentence of 25 years. Members of Parliament f rom across the spectrum and activists have acknowledged that the changes over the past year have been substantial. But they want more. T here have been changes clause by clause, but as a bigger picture, we see it as a step backwards, as it still has a chilling impact on the access to inf ormation. T here is still an unreasonable restriction on the publics right to know, Right2Know spokesperson, Murray Hunter, told Moneyweb. If all else f ails, opposition parties seem resolute that they will challenge the bill in the Constitutional Court. T he Minister of State Security, Siyabonga Cwele, says hell welcome this. As we have always maintained, the calls f or a constitutional court challenge of the bill are taken in the spirit of our country being a constitutional democracy. We would theref ore welcome such an action as it is provided f or by our constitution and indeed there is nothing to f ear in this regard, he told Parliament. T he ANC sees the bill as a good balance between the constitutional provisions of access to inf ormation and limiting access in the interests of advancing national security. Its satisf ied that enough compromises have been made. But a possible ConCourt challenge and protests may keep the Secrecy bill in the news f or a while yet. Right2Know says theyre using Freedom Day, Workers Day and World Press Freedom Day on May 3 to highlight their concerns through workshops, pickets and protests.