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MPs in South Africa passed the 'Protection of Information Act' on Tuesday leading to wide protests from the media fraternity.

A WAN-IFRA Press Freedom article described the act as a law meant to protect the state against "espionage" and guard "national interests".

According to the act any information that is considered to be of "national interest" can be 'protected'. These include any documents whether from a government or police files. Anyone found infringing the law can be sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Opponents of the law termed it as the "secrecy bill" as it places severe restrictions on the freedom of information.

South Africa's governing party, the ANC, also put forward a proposal to form a Media Appeals Tribunal. According to the proposal the tribunal will be presided over by the government and will be in charge of settling disputes against the media.

The Nelson Mandela Center of Memory has strongly condemned the bill saying that it was against the nation’s goals for freedom of expression.