Johannesburg

DEFENDERS of freedom in South Africa are deeply worried these days. The health of one of the world’s most celebrated democracies, which emerged after decades of struggle against apartheid, is under threat. And any rollback of freedom here will have profoundly negative consequences for other nascent democracies across Africa.

Last week, the ruling African National Congress used its legislative majority to pass the Protection of State Information Bill in one of the two houses of Parliament. If signed into law, the “secrecy bill,” as many here call it, would criminalize the possession and disclosure of classified information, no matter by whom, and no matter why.

Under the proposed law, a journalist who receives classified information revealing corruption or wrongdoing involving government contracts is required to hand it over to the police and most likely face interrogation about the source. Holding on to such material invites up to 5 years in jail, and publishing it, up to 25.

The threat goes well beyond journalism. It is ultimately about citizens’ right to know. Indeed, these penalties would apply to anyone — from activists to individual legislators to diplomats — who received classified information without state approval.