Work in progress : Developing policies for access to government information in the New South Africa
By: Peter J. Lor
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Contributor(s): Adri van As.
Material type: 
ArticlePublisher: New York : PERGAMON, 2002Government Information Quarterly 19, 2, p. 101-121Abstract: Following South Africas transition to democracy in 1994, the SA government has adopted policies supporting freedom of expression and freedom of access to information. The Bill of Rights in the new Constitution includes a constitutional right of access to information held by the state. Since 1994 various initiatives have been taken by government and other bodies to promote such access. These include moves to reorganize government printing and publishing, restructure the governments public information services, make government information available on the Internet, and extend telephony and Internet access to poor communities. SAs new Legal Deposit Act, (1997) makes provision for the creation of official publications depositories. The Promotion of Access to Information Act, (2000) was enacted to ensure access to information held by the state and public bodies. However, despite much activity, it has proved difficult to translate principles into practical and well-coordinated measures to improve access to government information. A specific concern is the failure of policy-makers to visualize a role for libraries
Following South Africas transition to democracy in 1994, the SA government has adopted policies supporting freedom of expression and freedom of access to information. The Bill of Rights in the new Constitution includes a constitutional right of access to information held by the state. Since 1994 various initiatives have been taken by government and other bodies to promote such access. These include moves to reorganize government printing and publishing, restructure the governments public information services, make government information available on the Internet, and extend telephony and Internet access to poor communities. SAs new Legal Deposit Act, (1997) makes provision for the creation of official publications depositories. The Promotion of Access to Information Act, (2000) was enacted to ensure access to information held by the state and public bodies. However, despite much activity, it has proved difficult to translate principles into practical and well-coordinated measures to improve access to government information. A specific concern is the failure of policy-makers to visualize a role for libraries
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