[6] In September 2013 President Jacob Zuma refused to sign the Bill into law and instead sent it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration.
The concerns as submitted in various documents focused on: Specifically, the definition of 'national interest' as a basis to classify information was considered too broad, including "All matters relating to the advancement of the public good; the pursuit of justice, democracy, economic growth, free trade, a stable monetary system and sound international relations; and security from all forms of crime".
[9] Although the two are often conflated in contemporary debates over press freedom in South Africa, the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal is not mentioned in the Protection of State Information Bill.
Upon the establishment of an ad hoc committee in 2010[10] to address the concerns raised by South Africans opposed to the bill, the following major revisions to the bill were enacted: Critics of the bill have included a wide range of public organisations including: the Right2Know campaign (a coalition of nearly 400 civil society organisations and community groups); COSATU; opposition political parties of South Africa; SANEF (South Africa National Editors' Forum); the Nelson Mandela Foundation, as well as international advocacy organisations such as Committee for the Protection of Journalists and Human Rights Watch.
[15][16] The Senate of the University of the Witwatersrand issued a statement identifying how the bill would pose "deep threats to fundamental principles" enshrined in the constitution, impacting democracy in South Africa by undermining access to information and freedom of speech.
Two members of the ANC, Ben Turok and Gloria Borman abstained from voting on the bill urging 'further consideration' before finalising the legislation.