23 Feb 2017

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale says government has started internal consultations on the drafting of an Access to Information Law commonly referred to as Freedom of Information Act.

Answering a question in Parliament recently, Mr Molale indicated that Cabinet’s approval was being sought on the drafting of the Bill. “My ministry has completed the drafting of the Declaration of Assets Bill and it was circulated to ministries in December 2016 for input and went to the Cabinet Business Committee in February 2017,” Mr Molale said.

He noted that as soon as the Attorney General has completed incorporating comments or suggestions from the ministries and Cabinet Business Committee, the Bill would be referred to Cabinet for approval. “I am targeting the winter session for the presentation of the Bill to Parliament,” he said.

He further said there was no intention to enact a stand-alone legislation on Insider Trading because the Corruption and Economic Crime Amendment Act No. 6 of 2013 covered the offence under Trading in Influence, which defined the elements of Insider Trading and transgressions that come with it.

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister when his ministry would cause the enactment of the laws on Freedom of Information, Disclosure of Assets, Interests and Liabilities and Insider Trading.