afrol News, 27 February - Following strong pressure from civil society, trade unions and from within the party, South Africa's ruling ANC has decided to withdraw the controversial Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorism and Related Activities Bill - or at least delay the vote until after the elections.

The anti-terrorism bill, designed as a reaction to the increased terrorism activity worldwide - had caused massive concern among South Africa's human and civil rights groups, including the country's trade union and several ANC members. Given its unclear definition of "terrorism", the groups fared the law could be used against peaceful activism, dissidents and protesters.

As the bill today was tabled to be voted on in South Africa's Parliament, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) yesterday threatened with a nation-wide strike to prevent the bill. COSATU Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi yesterday said unions would do everything in their power to prevent the bill.

- On this one, there will be blood on the floor," Mr Vavi told the press in Johannesburg. "We are not going to fold our arms when our hard won rights are taken away," the trade union leader added, calling the bill a "draconian law, which goes to the very foundation of our freedom."

COSATU together with the ANC forms part of a tripartite alliance, forming the political leadership in post-apartheid South Africa. A general strike and an open rupture between ANC and COSATU only weeks before the general elections could have seriously hurt the ruling party.

The ANC today decided to withdraw the anti-terrorism bill, but party spokespersons maintained this had not been a consequence of union threats. The ruling party also indicated that the vote on the bill only had been delayed to be voted on in the next parliamentary sitting, after the April elections.

Nevertheless, COSATU spokesman Patrick Craven today "applauded" the ANC decision to withdraw the bill. The union now was to "call off" all forms of "protest action which had been planned." The decision was "a victory" for the environment of discussions between the ruling party and unions, Mr Craven held.

- COSATU hopes that there will now be a thorough review of whether any such legislation is necessary and, if so, to make sure that any future bill conforms strictly to the Constitution of South Africa and does not threaten any of the democratic rights that are enshrined in that constitution and the laws of the country, the union spokesman said in a statement.

The anti-terrorism bill already has been through one round of reviews and technical amendments, after first have been passed by Parliament's lower chamber. It was however rejected by the higher chamber in its original form and the present bill is a re-draft.

Unions and civil rights groups however hold that even the re-draft is too far reaching. According to an earlier COSATU statement, "the broad wording of provisions" in the current form of the bill, "linking acts that cause economic harm to terrorist activity, could have direct implication for any strike or protest activity."

By staff writer

© afrol News

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