PAIA manual

Privately owned businesses are required to provide a guide in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act – Act 2 of 2000.

The Bill of Rights of the South African Constitution – Access to Information Section 32 reads as follows:

1. Everyone has the right of access to –
   1. any information held by the State; and
   2. any information that is held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.
2. National Legislation must be enacted to give the effect to this right, and may provide for reasonable measures to alleviate the administrative and financial burden on the state.

The Promotion of Access to Information Act stipulates that every private body (that is a privately owned business) must put together a manual (PAIA Manual) and forward a copy of this manual to the South African Human Rights Commission. This will ensure that everyone that requires information to exercise or protect any right will have access to such information from SAHRC.

How to comply

In order to comply with this legislation you can follow these steps:

1. You need only change the company logo’s and highlighted areas in the attached manual
   • Download Form C
   • Download Information Act
2. Once you’ve completed the form, sign the document (Not Form C, just the manual) and then forward on to dmalesa@sahrc.org.za
3. If you have a website, the manual must also be available on your website.
4. You must attach Form C to the manual (you must not change Form C, but it does form part of the manual).
5. All businesses must comply with the new regulation before 31^st of December 2011.