The Right2Know Campaign held our 10th National Summit on Zoom due to the Covid pandemic  from 6-15 August 2020 (see FULL REPORT).

Delegates considered the 2019 Programme Reflection, NWG Reflection, Governance Reflection, reports from Gauteng, KZN & Western Cape and the financial report. The Summit noted that the Audit for the year ending December 2019 would be finalised by the end of August 2020. Delegates assessed the progress made since the 9th National Summit in March 2019 as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the campaign in the coming year.

The 2020 National Summit recognised the decade of struggle to protect and promote the right to know that the R2K has undertaken. We recognised the many little and big victories along the way – in countering secrecy and an increasingly repressive state, in opening up access to information, in promoting media freedom and diversity, in protecting whistle-blowers and in joining the call for greater accountability overall and reversing the impact that corruption has had on ordinary people’s lives. We reaffirmed our commitment to combating patriarchy wherever we find it – whether in our midst or in the world.

The Summit also recognised the very many comrades, allies and partners who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in driving the R2K forward.

The Summit further recognised the importance of THIS Summit in the life of the R2K. After 2 years of strategic review and introspection, we find ourselves at a crossroads, in a world that has significantly changed from the one in 2011. We recognised the need for R2K to change to meet that new world and the new struggles – and to respond in new ways to old struggles.

The National Summit resolved as follows:

Amending our Founding Documents

We resolved to amend our founding documents and purpose in the following ways:

Our Vision_​

The R2K seeks to create a country and a world where we all have the right to know – that is to be free to access and to share information. This right is fundamental to any democracy that is open, accountable, participatory and responsive; able to deliver the social, economic, gender and environmental justice we need. On this foundation, we will build a society and an international community in which we all live free from want, free from fear, in equality and in dignity

Our Mission_​

• To co-ordinate, unify, organise and activate those who share our principles to defend and advance the right to know.
• To struggle both for the widest possible recognition in law and policy of the right to know and for its implementation and practice in daily life.
• To root the struggle for the right to know in the struggles of communities demanding political work towards ensuring that South Africa enjoys a free and diverse range of public, private and non-profit media and open and affordable access to the internet and telecommunications, social, economic and environmental justice.
• To propagate our vision throughout society.
• To engage those with political and economic power where necessary.
• continue to build the Right2Know Campaign as a free, independent, vibrant, democratic and supporter driven coalition. locally and internationally.

 

Constitutional Amendments:

Amendment 1: Election onto the NWG

 

That clause 6.2 of the Right to Know Constitution is amended from its current formulation to the following:

1. 2. 1. The National Working Group shall comprise Fifteen (15) persons.
      2. Each of the main active provinces, currently Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, shall elect up to five (5) members to serve on the NWG.
      3. Those members shall be designated by adoption of the National Summit as the Right2Know’s National Working Group for the next term of office.
      4. Office-Bearers may be appointed by the National Working Group from within its rank, as it may be deemed desirable from time to time, including:
         1. A Chairperson and/or
         2. A Vice-Chairperson; and/or
         3. A Secretary; and/or
         4. A Treasurer
      5. The election of the NWG members may proceed as follows:
         1. Individually, by majority vote of current Provincial Working Group Members at their Annual Summits
         2. Prospective NWG members must be present at the election process and at the respective Provincial Summit, unless apologies have been received and accepted by the respective PWG;
         3. The NWG members voted for by a Province must be from that PWG;
         4. All standing/ contesting leaders must present their leadership manifesto and potential contribution to the NWG to their respective Province
         5. In electing NWG members, the province will ensure an equitable representation across NGOs, community structures and individual activist members of the PWG;
         6. In electing the 5 NWG members, the province will ensure that we adhere to our gender parity principles.
      6. All NWG members must commit to uphold the principles contained in the Activist Code of Conduct and to subject themselves to recall by the province in line with the Right2Recall pledge developed in 2020.

Amendment 2: Two-year term implementation postponed

The National Summit also adopted a resolution to defer the start of the two-year term of office of the NWG to the 2021 National Summit, rather than implement it for the 2020 Summit.

  

Policy Adoption: The Activist Code of Conduct

The National Summit adopted the Activist Code of Conduct and Procedure detailed below.

The Summit also resolved to review the Staff Code of Conduct and Procedure in order to harmonise it with the Activist Code recognising the additional obligations that come with the employment relationship within 3 months of the National Summit.

The Activist Code applies to everyone within R2K. The procedures for holding activists and staffers may differ.

R2K ACTIVIST CODE OF CONDUCT

 

• The R2K seeks to create a country and a world where we all have the right to know – that is to be free to access and to share information. This right is fundamental to any democracy that is open, accountable, participatory and responsive; able to deliver the social, political, economic, gender and environmental justice we need. On this foundation, we will build a society and an international community in which we all live free from want, free from fear, in equality and in dignity.
• The R2K recognises the inherent dignity of all people – regardless of race, colour, creed, gender, sexual orientation, political opinion or origin.
• We recognise that we come to the R2K with differences in access to power and privilege and different Life experiences. We confirm that these shape how we engage with the world and with each other.
• Furthermore, we recognise that the issues that motivate us to struggle and that we seek to change are important and our pursuit of them is informed by our commitment to make a positive change in our own life, in that of our community and of the country.
• We recognise and encourage a robust contestation of ideas, for it is in that contest that our new solutions lie.
• We recognise that we do our best work when we work in solidarity with others, despite the surface differences constructed by society. In working together, shoulder to shoulder, we strengthen each other, building resilience and reliance on ourselves.
• THEREFORE, we commit ourselves to creating a shared space for our activism that is welcoming, safe for all and reflective of our shared values and principles listed below.
• We also commit to holding each other and ourselves accountable to these values and principles and to take action when we undermine or break them, without fear, favour or discrimination.

 

Mutual Respect

1. We affirm that all people have inherent human dignity and are worthy of our respect.
2. We commit to treat each other with respect at all times regardless of race, gender, class or age;
3. We commit to treat each other with respect and humanity especially when we differ in our opinions;
4. We understand that respect is mutual and must be given as well as demanded;
5. We commit not to discriminate against any member of the collective on any prohibited ground or on any arbitrary ground.
6. We agree to subject ourselves to the sanction of the collective should we fail to uphold this value.

Freedom of Expression

1. We affirm the right of every activist to express themselves and their opinions freely and openly;
2. We equally encourage activists to consider the impact of their opinions or expression on other members of the collective;
3. We will defend the expression of opinion or statements that may be uncomfortable, provocative or even offensive to some; or may be hurtful in the expression, so long as the statement is true and/or is not said with the intention to harm another activist or the collective;
4. We will not tolerate expression that amounts to hatred of another based on race, gender, ethnicity or religion;
5. We will not tolerate speech that is violent in nature, inflammatory or intended to incite violence against another;
6. We will also not tolerate any misinformation, disinformation or outright lies;
7. We will hold any activist to account for statements or expressions that seek to divide our collective, undermine our collective action, are derogatory of another fellow activist or which infringes on the inherent human dignity of another.
8. We agree to subject ourselves to the sanction of the collective should we fail to uphold this value.

Access to Information

2. We affirm our commitment to being transparent and open about our decision-making and decision-taking;
3. We affirm our commitment to providing access to information about R2K, its activities, its structures, its campaigns and organisation to activists within the R2K both proactively and upon demand;
4. We recognise and affirm our obligations to protect the personal information of activists and staff of the R2K;
5. Furthermore, we also commit to respect the confidentiality of information obtained during the course of R2K business and only to share the same with the express permission of the affected parties;
6. We recognise that the sharing of information is done in spirit of trust, and that violating the confidentiality of personal or organisational information breaks that trust.
7. We agree to subject ourselves to the sanction of the collective should we fail to uphold this value.

Participatory Democracy

1. We affirm our commitment to meaningful engagement and enabling the full participation of all activists (including the staff of the R2K) in all processes and platforms of the R2K;
2. We affirm the inherent equality of all activists in our meetings and platforms in respect of voice and opinion;
3. It remains the responsibility of each activist on an R2K platform to ensure that the space is created for all activists; this includes checking their own use of speaking time or space;
4. It remains the responsibility of each and every activist to ensure that they are adequately informed of the issues in order to make the best contribution;
5. We commit ourselves to contributing positively to build the Right2Know actively in whatever way we can;
6. We commit ourselves to ensuring that socially marginalised voices are recognised and encouraged to contribute;
7. We commit ourselves to meeting procedures that encourage meaningful engagement, the constructive expression of ideas and enable good dialogue;
8. We commit ourselves to seeking consensus as far as possible where there are decisions to be taken. In the absence of consensus, the matter may be settled by a significant majority (66%) of the meeting;
9. We agree to subject ourselves to the sanction of the collective, regardless of platform, should we fail to uphold this value.

 

Ethical Leadership

1. We recognise that every activist on our platforms is a potential leader; anyone who steps forward to contribute to taking action forward in support of our goals, is a leader;
2. In addition, we recognise that we may select/elect leaders to represent us as a collective and with a specific mandate. Such leaders always remain accountable to the general body of activists who have given them such a mandate regardless of the platform;
3. The policies and procedures of the organisation bind everyone within the R2K;
4. We commit ourselves to know and observe the policies, principles and Constitution of_​ the organisation, and take responsibility for ensuring these policies are respected and upheld by others;
5. It is the fiduciary responsibility of all activists to take care of the resources of the R2K in service of the collective objectives;
6. There is a special fiduciary duty on those activists in formal leadership roles;
7. Wherever an activist finds themselves in a potential conflict of interest – whether relating to money or an undisclosed relationship or interest – they must declare the same immediately. Failure to do so may invite disciplinary sanction

 

Disciplinary Procedure for Activists.

Principles

1. The purpose of discipline is to correct unacceptable behaviour in terms of the R2K Activist Code of Conduct and not merely to punish transgressions. As far as possible, we will seek to restore comradely relationships. However, we recognise that some behaviours constitute a fundamental breach of our collective values or trust that may necessitate a termination of the relationship in order to maintain the integrity of our collective space. _​
2. Everyone has the right to be heard. No_​ formal disciplinary action regarding a major/serious offence shall be taken before an enquiry has been convened to hear the case where the charged member shall have the right to state her/his case and to be represented.
3. Where found guilty, a member shall have the right of appeal in line with the disciplinary procedure below and within the stipulated time-frames. The implementation of the disciplinary action will be suspended until such appeal has been finalized.
4. All offences shall be dealt with in terms of the procedures set out below.

Provincial Level

1. Where a provincial structure has determined to discipline an activist member for a serious breach of the Activist Code of Conduct, the provincial structure shall determine the most appropriate form of the Enquiry.
2. A provincial enquiry may be conducted by:
   1. A single Presiding Officer of the Enquiry duly nominated by the provincial structure; or
   2. A Disciplinary Committee consisting of no more than 3 members, one of whom should be an elected Coordinator – unless the person alleged to have committed a breach of the Activist Code is a Coordinator.
3. The Provincial Disciplinary Enquiry may be conducted
   1. On the papers, with any and all interested parties submitting their statements, arguments and any evidence in writing to the Chairperson or the Committee within such timeframes as may be determined by the Enquiry; or
   2. By calling witnesses, cross-examining witnesses and the presentation of oral evidence and argument in a hearing.
4. A decision by a Provincial Disciplinary Committee shall be submitted in writing to the Provincial Structure and the Activist against whom the complaint was made within 14 days of the conclusion of the hearing or the closing date for submission of documents in (a) above.

Appeal against a decision of the Provincial Structure

1. An Activist who has been found guilty of a breach of the Activist Code of Conduct by either a Presiding Officer of an Enquiry or a Provincial Disciplinary Enquiry and whose sanction consists of either a suspension from the Province, the imposition of a fine or similar or partial or total expulsion from the Campaign, may appeal to the NWG in writing within 7 calendar days.
2. The Activist concerned must lodge the appeal in writing detailing the grounds for the appeal which may include:
   1. That the Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee made a mistake – in relation to the governing R2K Policies or in relation to the facts of the matter; or
   2. That the Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee conducted the disciplinary hearing in a manner that was procedurally unfair; or
   3. That the sanction imposed by the Presiding Officer / Disciplinary Committee was too harsh or was inappropriate and the reasons for such a claim; or
   4. That new evidence that was not considered at the disciplinary enquiry had subsequently arisen and should be considered
3. The Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee will be given 48hrs to respond to the grounds of the appeal as submitted by the Activist.
4. The NWG will mandate either a single Presiding Officer or a team of no more than 3 members with a Chairperson to hear the Appeal on the papers. The Presiding Officer / members of the original provincial Disciplinary Committee of the Disciplinary Enquiry cannot be part of the Appeal Team.
5. The Presiding Officer or Team considering the appeal will then consider the submissions and will make a written finding within 72 hours.
6. This decision on the appeal will be final; there can be no further internal appeal.

National Level:

1. Where the National Working Group has determined to discipline an activist member of a national structure for a serious breach of the Activist Code of Conduct, the NWG shall determine the most appropriate form of the Enquiry.
2. A national enquiry may be conducted by:
   1. A single Presiding Officer of the Enquiry duly nominated by the national structure; or
   2. A Disciplinary Committee consisting of no more than 3 members. In the first instance, the Committee should constitute members of the NWG; the Committee may also comprise external members brought in to help the Committee with their specific expertise.
3. The National Disciplinary Enquiry may be conducted
   1. On the papers, with any and all interested parties submitting their statements, arguments and any evidence in writing to the Chairperson or the Committee within such timeframes as may be determined by the Enquiry; or
   2. By calling witnesses, cross-examining witnesses and the presentation of oral evidence and argument in a hearing.
4. A decision by either the Presiding Officer of the Enquiry or a National Disciplinary Committee shall be submitted in writing to the NWG and the Activist against whom the complaint was made within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing or the closing date for submission of documents in (a) above.

Appeal against a decision of the National Working Group

1. An Activist who has been found guilty of a breach of the Activist Code of Conduct by either a Presiding Officer of an Enquiry or a National Disciplinary Enquiry and whose sanction consists of either a suspension from the National Structure , the imposition of a fine or similar or partial or total expulsion from the Campaign, may appeal against such a decision to the NWG in writing within 14 calendar days of the decision of the Disciplinary Enquiry being made known.
2. The Activist concerned must lodge the appeal in writing detailing the grounds for the appeal which may include:
   1. That the Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee made a mistake – in relation to the governing R2K Policies or in relation to the facts of the matter; or
   2. That the Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee conducted the disciplinary hearing in a manner that was procedurally unfair; or
   3. That the sanction imposed by the Presiding Officer / Disciplinary Committee was too harsh or was inappropriate and the reasons for such a claim; or
   4. That new evidence that was not considered at the disciplinary enquiry had subsequently arisen and should be considered
3. The Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee will be given 7 calendar days to respond to the grounds of the appeal as submitted by the Activist. The Presiding Officer / Disciplinary Committee may elect not to respond further, in which case the Appeal structure will consider fully the Disciplinary Enquiry Report.
4. The Appeal structure will not be the NWG but rather, an independent appeals tribunal appointed for that purpose by the NWG annually.
5. The Independent Appeals Tribunal will consist of 1 or 3 members appointed by the NWG within the first month of their term of office and will serve in that capacity for the duration of the term of the NWG. The members will be drawn randomly from up to 3 names per province proposed by the provinces. The members of the Independent Appeals Tribunal shall have experience in conducting disciplinary processes in either workplace or activist spaces.
6. The Independent Appeals Tribunal will be competent to hear appeals from either the member or from the NWG if similarly, the latter believes:
   1. That the Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee made a mistake – in relation to the governing R2K Policies or in relation to the facts of the matter; or
   2. That the Presiding Officer/Disciplinary Committee conducted the disciplinary hearing in a manner that was procedurally unfair; or
   3. That the sanction imposed by the Presiding Officer / Disciplinary Committee was too harsh or was inappropriate and the reasons for such a claim; or
   4. That new evidence that was not considered at the disciplinary enquiry had subsequently arisen and should be considered
7. Where the NWG seeks to appeal the outcome of the enquiry, similar time-frames as contained above will apply.
8. The Independent Appeals Tribunal will convene within 7 days of the submission of the response by the Presiding Officer / Disciplinary Committee and will attend to the appeal either
   1. On the papers; or
   2. By calling for oral submissions from any interested party.

 

9. The Independent Appeals Tribunal will then consider the submissions and will make a written finding/decision within 14 days of receipt of all written and/or oral submissions.
10. This decision on the appeal will be final; there can be no further internal appeal.

Precautionary Suspension of Activists

1. Any R2K Provincial or National structure may suspend an Activist from that structure pending an investigation as a precautionary measure if any of the following is present:
   1. The Activist is alleged to have committed a serious breach of the Activist Code of Conduct; and
   2. The continued participation/presence of the Activist concerned may interfere with the investigation and/or inquiry; or
   3. The continued participation/presence of the Activist may threaten/endanger the wellbeing or safety of any person within the Campaign either in the province or nationally; or
   4. There is a risk that the Activist is likely to repeat the same or similar offence in the period of the investigation and/or disciplinary enquiry.
2. The Provincial Coordination structure or the NWG (whichever is the appropriate structure) must consider such reasons.
3. Should those reasons submitted by the Activist not be accepted, a suspension notice will be sent to the him/her in writing (including electronically) within 24 hours.
4. The suspension will include all activities and attendance at all meetings of the provincial and/or national structure (as is appropriate). The suspension notice will include the level of activities from which the Activist is suspended as well as the duration of the suspension.
5. The Activist remains subject to the Activist Code of Conduct of the Campaign for as long as s/he identifies her-/himself as a member of the Campaign. As such s/he must cooperate with any investigation and respond to any instruction during the suspension.
6. A disciplinary hearing will be convened as quickly as possible should the investigation indicate that disciplinary action should be taken.
7. The Provincial or National structure that issued the suspension notice may lift the suspension before the expiry of the suspension period if the relevant factors in 1 above no longer apply.

 

Schedule of offences and sanctions

The National Summit resolved that the Schedule of offences be finalised and adopted within 3 months of the Summit. This Schedule will be used a guideline in applying the Activist Code and Disciplinary Procedure.

The purpose of disciplining a comrade is to correct behaviour that undermines the collective in the first place. The intention is to ensure that the collective spaces are safe enough to hold everyone and resilient enough to allow for robust contestation, debate and interaction in a spirit of comradeship.

Category	Misconduct	1st Offence	2nd Offence	3rd Offence
Uncomradely behaviour	Use of foul, derogatory, insulting language, signs or clothes
	Poor timekeeping that amounts to disrespect
	Bringing the R2K into disrepute	Warning	Suspension	Expulsion
Freedom of Expression
	Abuse of the social media and other communication channels
	Hate Speech
Dishonesty	Theft
	Misappropriation of funds
	Unauthorised possession of R2K/someone else’s property
	Falsifying reimbursement claims
	Misrepresentation
Violence	Assaulting a fellow activist	Mandatory Suspension	Expulsion from the R2K
	Incitement to do violence	Warning/ Suspension	Expulsion
	Intimidation	Warning	Suspension
	Bullying
	Harassment on a prohibited ground	Mandatory Suspension	Expulsion
	Sexual Harassment	Mandatory Suspension	Expulsion from the R2K
Breach of duty to act in good faith

 

 

The Structure of the R2K

Western Cape Provincial Working Group

The National Summit noted that the process and results of the WC Provincial Summit elections had been challenged and had been the subject of investigation by an independent committee set up for that purpose.

The National Summit noted the recommendations of the Investigation Committee that:

1. The disputes relating to provincial relationships be dealt with in a provincially-led process; and
2. That the election results of both the provincial leadership and the provincial delegation to the National Summit be set aside; and
3. That the election of Western Cape provincial leadership and National Summit delegations be redone. Those elections to be held before the National Summit on a virtual platform to be accessed by all members of the WC PWG. That process to start with a fresh nomination process and the establishment of a transparent, accredited voters’ roll of members.
4. The Investigation Committee recommended the Grassroots App for the conduct of these two sets of elections.

The National Summit noted that only the election of a provincial delegation had been done. The Summit noted that the delegation had been given a limited mandate to participate in the National Summit but not to stand for any positions.

The National Summit noted the dispute raised by members of the WC delegation contesting their limited mandate and calling into question the legitimacy of the summit delegation’s election.

Noting the dispute lodged by some of the members of the WC delegation, and noting the intermittent disruption of the National Summit by some members of the WC delegation and the number of outstanding disputes in the WC PWG, the National Summit resolved:

1. To place the WC PWG under administration with immediate effect;
2. To authorise the incoming NWG to appoint an administrator (from outside the WC PWG) to deal with the outstanding issues in the PWG, including the re-establishment of the WC PWG, the election of new provincial leadership and to nominate NWG members in line with the newly adopted procedure.

 

Programme Resolutions

The National Summit noted that the internal transformation process had slowed down the implementation of the 2019 National Summit programme resolutions.

The National Summit also noted that the National Lockdown had also had a significant impact on the programme activities of the R2K in the first 6 months of 2020.

The National Summit resolved to complete the unfinished work from the previous period. In addition, it resolved to emphasise the following priority areas in each focus area:

Communication Rights:

Recognising that the right to communicate is still constrained in South Africa by the relatively high cost of access to the internet, the vulnerability of users on virtual platforms to cybercrimes, hate speech and misinformation , and the importance of creating spaces for grassroots voices to be heard and recognised, we commit to strengthening our work in the following ways:

1. Challenge Vumatel’s roll-out of fibre-to-the-home in Soweto in respect of protection of personal information and privacy concerns
2. Publicise Zenzeleni and other community-driven initiatives for more affordable access to the internet – with a focus on rural connectivity.
3. Continue to campaign against the continued high cost of data by (1) promoting extending access through the government’s broadband roll out and (2) leveraging the opening up of digital spectrum and (3) extending the zero-rating of more websites and applications that increase public access to information, education and voice.
4. Campaign for the turnaround strategy at the SABC, challenging the proposed privatisation of the SABC. We will continue to campaign for the SABC’s important channel of information for the vast majority of South Africans as the public broadcaster.
5. Continue to campaign for better funding for the community media sector, including working more closely with the MDDA to make sure that community radio stations benefit from government support for the benefit of their listening communities
6. Continue to raise awareness about and campaign for greater digital security on digital media platforms
7. Promote alternative media platforms – both for news consumption and content creation
8. In order to improve the safety of online platforms we will continue to advocate for dealing with hate speech, misinformation and cyberbullying.
9. Continue to challenge Copyrights Bill and the Films and Publications Amendment Bill
10. Challenge multinationals corporations like Facebook, Amazon, and Google, demand that the state place a tax on online earnings by multinationals online corporations
11. Explore and educate on the impact of 5G rollout and related technologies.

 

Countering Patriarchy:

Recognising the pervasive nature of patriarchy in society and even within our structures, we commit ourselves to consciously countering patriarchal practices and attitudes through:

Internal focus

1. Strengthening the common understanding of R2K leadership at all levels (NWG, PWG, PAGs) and activists of patriarchy, and how it manifests in R2K’s organisational culture, and the world at large.
2. Creating spaces for womxn-only to build solidarity among womxn and gender non-conforming members of R2K
3. Developing a Leadership Development module for this purpose. Its contents will include:
   1. Socialisation under patriarchy; how to unlearn its negative, violent aspects
   2. How patriarchy intersects with race, class, and other systems of exploitation and subordination;
   3. The importance of an intersectional approach to combating patriarchy;
   4. Creating awareness that gender as a concept has moved beyond the binary of male and female and that gender identity is fluid and non-binary;
   5. highlight that combating patriarchy is also ‘men’s work’ by focusing on reimagining masculinities.
4. Ensuring that the outstanding sexual harassment complaints and other forms of gender violence in R2K are addressed promptly;
5. Work consciously to integrate a gender lens into all of our focus areas of work.
6. We will explore appointing (or employing) a national organiser/coordinator who will strengthen and give direction to the Countering Patriarchy project.
7. Consciously review and change our organisational policies and practices to ensure a safe, fair and inclusive environment for women and non-binary activists. This includes an examination of our employment practices, leadership selection, meeting procedures, etc. This we will do to ensure we have the policy and structural arrangements to deal with gender discrimination

 External Focus

1. We will contribute to a greater awareness-raising of gender-based discrimination within the social justice sector, highlighting incidence of gender-based violence in the sector and creating safe and supportive spaces for victims of gender-based discrimination and violence in the sector.
2. Over next three years, we will work in alliance with other organisations who have gender work at their core to assist us to develop our own campaigns
3. We will comment on and challenge laws and policies that discriminate against women, gender nonconforming and non-binary people disproportionately

Countering Repression:

Recognising the ongoing challenges to the right to protest, the ever-expanding footprint of state and private surveillance and the continuing closing down of space for criticism and activism, the R2K commits to deepening its current work in the following ways:

1. In relation to Surveillance:
   1. We will campaign for the better regulation of surveillance of public spaces – and for the prohibition of private surveillance of public spaces in particular. We will especially focus on the more stringent legislative and regulatory framework of the outsourcing of state surveillance to private contractors
   2. We will campaign for the greater protection of privacy and private information gathered during surveillance through the full implementation of the POPI Act.
   3. We will engage the State Security Agency for greater transparency and public involvement in its current transformation process;
   4. As part of the overhaul of the SSA, we will campaign for strengthening the oversight function of the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI);
   5. We will continue to engage the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence for greater access to sittings of that committee, especially for greater budgetary transparency;
   6. We will strengthen our efforts at holding the Office of the Inspector General of Intelligence to account and to deal with at least 15 referrals done by R2K.
2. In relation to Secrecy and Securitisation:
   1. We will engage the latest referral of the Secrecy Bill back to Parliament to ensure that the Bill, when passed into law passes constitutional muster and provides for classification of documents as secret in exceptional and limited cases;
   2. We will work in collaboration with other structures to strengthen protections for whistle-blowers beyond the current set of workplace protections.
3. In relation to Protest actions:
   1. We will continue to strengthen our relationships and partnerships with other organisations working on the right to protest – including strengthening our involvement in the R2P Project (aimed at ensuring mitigating the criminalisation of protesters and protest action);
   2. We will strengthen our capacity to monitor protest action and repression in the face of increasing state violence. This will be an opportunity for grassroots citizens to generate data on the levels of state repression in their communities.
   3. We will campaign for strengthening the protections of the right to protest contained in the RGA and other legislation as well as recourse for where those protections are not respected
   4. We will continue to campaign against municipal malpractices in relation to the right to protest – including the imposition of “protest fees” and abuse of municipal by-laws that undermine the right to petition.
   5. We will engage the SAPS on their current regulations on the handling of protest actions and maintaining public order – especially we will campaign for the implementation of the Farlam Commission’s recommendations. This includes the demilitarisation of the SAPS, improving the training of police officers and better trained and resourced units across the country.

Participating In Democracy:

An active and engaged citizenry is key to moving beyond a representative system of government to a properly participatory democracy. This means that communities and people participate fully in the decisions that affect their lives in a collective and meaningful way. We strive to support communities, activists and allied organisations to get an equal space at the table and have our inputs considered, as well as the necessary information, tools and the skills to be able to take full part in the process. Participatory democracy also means working to strengthen the relevant structures and institutions to promote meaningful engagement.

We therefore commit to strengthening our work pursuing greater participation in democracy in the following ways:

1. In respect of Open Meetings:
   1. To expand our toolkit of tools and skills training and popular education materials to better support activists and communities to access information, engage stakeholders and pursue their demands for a better quality of life;
   2. To promote both access to information as well as the creation of own information through social audits and community mapping for example.
   3. To continue to advocate, alone and in collaboration with other organisations and structures, for a more robust policy and legal framework to promote access to information, administrative justice and meaningful engagement;
   4. To push for the creation of a Public Participation Charter that addresses the legitimate participation needs of communities.
2. In respect of Open Structures:
   1. To continue to open up and occupy spaces at National, Provincial and Local government levels. In particular we will expand our involvement in the ParliWatch collaboration to provincial legislatures. We will seek to establish and strengthen our relationships with stakeholders with an eye to opening up new spaces for engagement.
   2. To continue our work on demanding greater accountability and good governance compliance in State Owned Entities;
   3. To continue our work on calling for the strengthening and better resourcing of the overall oversight mechanisms – including the integrity of the various Chapter 9 Institution and statutory bodies for whom oversight is a core function.
3. In respect of Open Processes:
   1. To build on our success in opening up the Executive appointment processes and in partnership with other organisations developing a framework to ensure those appointments respect and comply with the Constitutional principles of openness and transparency
   2. To examine and advocate for greater transparency and access to procurement and budgeting processes – especially at municipal level
   3. To prepare for the LGE2021 by revisiting our campaign on the Right to Recall and looking at the implementation of the Party Funding Act.
   4. To collaborate with other organisations in exploring opportunities for expanding direct democracy to National and Provincial elections
   5. To monitor the integrity of the LGE2021, especially the issues of hate speech, electioneering, compliance with the Electoral Code of Conduct and the readiness and conduct of the IEC;

Strategic Communications

Our strategic communications remain a critical part of the success of sharing and publicising our work – and that of the communities and activists we support. To this end we will continue to improve our communication and strengthen our communication channels as follows:

1. In respect of Internal Communications:
   1. Monthly narrative and financial reports submitted to the NWG as well as NWG minutes must be shared electronically with other structures who may choose to consider reports and give the NWG feedback.
   2. To ensure transparency and enable synergies and connections structures must share minutes of their meetings – including any POA – within 3 working days of a meeting with other structures.
   3. Build the capacity of activists to engage and utilise online platforms (e.g. Zoom, Jitsi etc)
   4. Organise writing and story-telling workshops for activists
   5. Build the capacity among activists to be media spokespersons for the province
   6. Regulate the use of our social media platforms – and to create greater awareness of using the appropriate channels for the intended purpose.
2. In respect of External Communications:
   1. Strengthen our working relationship with community media
   2. Form popular education task teams before key/core events to conceptualise and implement the key message for that event
   3. Using social media, traditional media, roadshows, sloganeering and other artistic expressions of popular education. This can be extended to composing / recording R2K songs or the creation of murals or graffiti with a specific R2K messaging.
3. In respect of Publications:
   1. We will continue to produce our regular weekly e-newsletter and to expand on the reach of the e-newsletter
   2. We will explore a more diversified use of our online platform (website) to house our publications as well as curated popular education materials and sessions
   3. We will continue to produce our Activist Guides, Information Sheets, Tabloid Sheets and other materials in both printed and downloadable formats.

Organisational Resolutions

Fundraising and Sustainability

1. R2K must strengthen relations with all current funders
2. Donor communication must ONLY be done through the Head of R2K Administration
3. Fundraising team to include a reserve budget line in all our proposals and target individuals and organisations with unrestricted funding
4. Fundraising to be done in conjunction with other partners working in the same space
5. R2K must target funding available in provinces outside KZN, GP and WC
6. 3 Year mature development plans must be developed urgently and used for cold calling fund raising
7. R2K must explore accessing government funds that fit into R2K mission
8. Internal fundraising efforts to be initiated e.g.: selling of t-shirts, joining fees to webinars or trainings done by R2K and hiring out skill set available in R2K structures to needy organisations