The securitisation of information with reference to South Africa's Protection of State Information Bill 2010

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse whether or not information has been securitised in South Africa. The degree of possible securitisation is assessed to determine the consequences of this securitised situation for the information-security nexus in South Africa. This premise is based primarily on the introduction of the Protection of State Information Bill, 2010 (hereinafter the Bill) which forms the case study. The Bill is posited by the state as a contribution to the country's information society and an enhancement of security-law to allow the State to combat threats in the Information Age. However, the Bill has received fierce criticism as a detractor to the democratic project of South Africa. The analysis of the paper is grounded in the framework of Securitisation Theory, derived from Critical Security Studies within the field of Security Studies. This theory explores the consideration of an issue or entity, as a security subject, ultimately removing the issue or entity from the public-political discourse. Accordingly, the study concludes that a partial securitisation of information has occurred in South Africa, but with justifiable defence and necessary cause. In spite of the often pejorative perspective of a securitised environment, this outcome is not necessarily detrimental to the democratic project. Not only does the proposed security law enhance the security of the country to facilitate the pursuit of national interests, it allows the state to compete more effectively and aggressively with its counterparts in the international milieu in the Information Age.