[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” el_id=”news-breadcrumb” css=”.vc_custom_1450174202254{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 12px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;margin-left: 12px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1449649507225{padding-right: 7px !important;padding-left: 7px !important;}”][vc_column_text]HOME > NEWS[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1450220672133{margin-top: 30px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_inner el_class=”our-work-social-col” width=”2/12″][vc_empty_space height=”53px”][vc_facebook type=”box_count”][vc_tweetmeme type=”vertical”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”our-work-center-col” width=”7/12″ css=”.vc_custom_1450247557788{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-right-color: #73b0c7 !important;}”][vc_column_text el_class=”individual-news-title”]Joint Statement: RICA declared Unconstitutional & Invalid[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”individual-news-date”]Published by The Legal Resources Centre [icon type=”icon-clock”] 16 September 2019[/vc_column_text][rev_slider_vc alias=”news-press-release”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1568648732890{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]

Joint statement: RICA declared unconstitutional and invalid! 
 
 
16 September 2019
 
The Right2Know Campaign, Privacy International and the Legal Resources Centre welcome the Gauteng High Court ruling that parts of South Africa’s surveillance law, RICA, are unconstitutional and invalid.
 
The case was brought by amaBungane Centre for Investigative Journalism after confirming that security officials had spied on the communications of one of its journalists (see 2017 statement here).
R2K and Privacy International represented by the Legal Resources Centre joined the amaBhungane’s RICA challenge as amici curiae (friends of the court). 
 
There is a growing body of evidence of surveillance abuses in South Africa..  In July 2018, R2K  published a report on surveillance of journalists in South Africa. An inquiry into the State Security Agency launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa  found widespread corruption and criminality in the SSA, and evidence that civil society organisations had been spied on (see the panel’s report here).
 
We are elated by today’s judgment found RICA to be inconsistent with the Constitution, with the effect of:
 
  1. Ending secret spying abuses, by ensuring that people whose communications are secretly intercepted by the state are informed within three months, unless law-enforcement agencies convince a judge to grant a postponement.
  2. Ensuring extra safeguards when the state applies for authorisation to intercept communications of journalists or lawyers.
  3. Ordering the state to stop all mass surveillance activities, which it has been conducting through the shadowy ‘National Communications Centre’ in Gauteng — without any legal regulation.
  4. Ordering Parliament to drastically amend RICA within 2 years, to improve the independence and oversight of the ‘RICA judge’ who oversees surveillance requests, and to provide clear procedures for how state officials handle data that they have intercepted.
 
This is a major victory in the struggle against surveillance abuses in South Africa. But it is also just a step forward. To meaningfully protect ordinary people against the climate of surveillance, much more is needed:
  • The NPA must prosecute all individuals who have been implicated in illegal surveillance over the years. No more delays!
  • The Inspector General of Intelligence must finalise the many investigations of illegal surveillance lodged by members of the public and civil society. No more delays!
  • The state must end the delays in giving full legal protection to ordinary citizens’ privacy: the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) must be brought into force. The privacy watchdog, the Information Regulator, must show that it can act to protect against abuse of people’s personal information.
 
The struggle against surveillance is crucial to the broader struggle for equality, dignity, and democracy. Let the people of South Africa say it together: Stop the spying!
 
See the judgement here.
 
For more information please contact:
 
Thami Nkosi, Secrecy and Surveillance Organiser: 062 624 5992
 
Murray Hunter, Secrecy and Surveillance Focus Member: 072 672 5468
 
Mosima Kekana, Legal Resources Centre Litigation Attorney: 078 592 7294
 
Online Version:
 
NB: Please attribute all contents of this statement to the Right2Know Campaign, Privacy International and Legal Resources Centre not to any individual unless you contact a spokesperson for specific comments.

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