Hon Deputy Speaker, this is one of the very few Bills that we agreed to as the EFF, when it was tabled right here. We supported it then and we are still convinced that it is necessary even right now.
Every state has the responsibility and obligation to protect the critical and essential infrastructure at its disposal and under its custodianship against any possible threat that may hinder its ability to deliver quality services to its people in an effective manner or compromise the security of its people.
In all such instances however, especially when the legislative framework is needed as is the case for the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill, we must always be on guard against the abuse of such legislation to create a state run by securocrats which will in the long run undermine our constitutional democracy or to allow such legislation to cover up or justify corrupt activities as was common during the Presidency of Jacob Zuma, who used the declaration of his home as a national