The demonstrations may be much smaller in South Africa, but the fury about a threat to national democracy seems as heated as that of the clamouring crowds in Egypt's Tahrir Square.

The anger follows the passing in Cape Town's parliament of the Protection of State Information Bill, because of its alleged threat to freedom of speech.

Uncharacteristically the parliamentary opposition united in its fight against the legislation proposed by the governing African National Congress, but it was passed by 229 votes to 107, with two abstentions.

In its current version, there are tough sentences of up to 25 years for anyone possessing classified government documents, with no defence of acting in the public interest.

azibuko eloquently put it from the podium in The National Assembly on Tuesday.

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