GOOD Speech by Sam Shabane,
GOOD National Chairperson
04 October 2023
Note to editor: This is the speech that was delivered by GOOD National Chairperson Sam Shabane, during today’s Proactive Disclosure of Information on Elections in Africa seminar hosted by the IEC and other partners in Pretoria.
South Africa with its renowned constitution provides a comprehensive bill of rights. GOOD is committed to promoting an equitable South Africa based on the values and principles of social democracy that address inequality and exclusion.
Our objective
Some of our values we promote as GOOD are Truth and Trust. We understand that these values have diminished in our country due to corruption that has been rampant in our government institutions. It is our responsibility as political parties to promote transparency and accountability.
What is Accountability
Breaking down Accountability into two parts:
(1) Answerability – This means providing information and justification for that information.
(2) Enforcement – Being subjected to accepting responsibility for non-delivery or meeting targets.
What is Transparency
Providing accurate information on the activities of an organisation and how the organisation achieves its objectives with honesty.
Our Constitution
As our constitution provides in Section 32 (1) Everyone has the right of access to (a) any information held by the state (b) any information that is held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any right.
As GOOD, we have already made available our PAIA manual which guides us on how to access information. This is in line with the provision section 14 of the PAIA Act that provides that every public institution or body must compile a PAIA manual.
Importance of Information Sharing
As an organisation, making information freely available without being coerced into making information available, we believe that it will promote the trust of the public and further improve the quality of the organisation that we lead.
Our country has been subjected to oppression for years under apartheid where information was not freely available. All the information shared was scrutinised and in most cases presented as propaganda to mislead the public.
The democracy ushered in 1994 through inclusive elections, meant that all the barriers to access to information were broken and that all through the new constitution without a struggle had access to information freely.
As the GOOD Party, we believe the provision of PAIA the Act, is important in guiding the process of information sharing to provide the necessary structure and guidance on information sharing.
It is our belief that all entities, both private and public, must standardise information sharing and adhere to the requirements of the PAIA Manual by making information freely available.
Media Enquiries:
Sam Shabane, GOOD National Chairperson
Cell: 078 621 4042
Email: sams@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za