The Right to Object

Melanie Veness:  PCB CEO

Much of this week has been taken up with work relating to a response to the proposed Protection of State Information Bill. One of the areas that stimulated a fair amount of debate was, quite predictably, that of public interest.

While I understand the need for some state information to be protected, I feel very strongly about not returning to the kind of draconian South Africa where atrocities can be committed while citizens languish in ignorance. Information is power and too much power results in control. Society needs to trust Government, and for this, there must be transparency and accountability.

Later on in the week, I was faced with a bit of challenge with regard to my stance on public interest.

I had a meeting with the Msunduzi Municipal Economic Development team to discuss what progress has been made on various stalled developments in the city. Several of them are being frustrated by objections. What irks is that many of these objections have been made by competitors and "professional objectors" under the guise of protecting the environment.

Before I say another thing, I must point out that at heart, I am a “tree hugger” myself. Having grown up in game reserves and on smallholdings, I am very conscious of the importance of protecting the environment, and where there is sound reason to object, you can rest assured that I will be the first person to stand up and be counted.

I am equally conscious of our unemployment rate and that relates to the need for development. I understand that some people like the way that things are and therefore work hard to maintain the status quo. But we also need to bear in mind that we don’t all share that view. Many do not have work and are not able to provide for their families. There has to be a balance between the need to preserve the environment, the desire to keep things the same, and the need for economic growth and development.

I had to ask myself to what extent public interest is being manipulated with regard to development projects. The reality is that some people object to proposed developments for a host of unreasonable reasons, and that occasionally, people with opposing agendas find themselves in the same camp!

Whatever the motivation for questionable objections, the end result is unnecessary delays and unjustifiable costs for developers.

I came to the following conclusion: I would far rather live in a society where there is freedom of expression and accountability. But these rights imply responsibility and while one has the right to object, it should be used wisely and fairly.

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