By making available the manual on the website, if any, of the public body.
As mentioned above, the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPI)
amends PAIA in a number of ways. One of these is in relation to Section 14 manuals
for public bodies. Under POPI these manuals must no longer be submitted to the
South African Human Rights Commission, but must be available online and made
available to anyone who requests a copy.
2.3.4
PAIA manuals for private bodies
Private bodies are also required to compile a manual. This is in terms of section 51 of the
PAIA. At present, not all private bodies are actually required to comply with this section.
You may find, therefore, that the body from which you wish to request information has no
manual to provide you. This does not mean that the body is not subject to PAIA generally.
You can still make a request for information to this body and they are still required by law to
process your request. The procedure for making a request for information in terms of the
PAIA remains the same, even if the requested party has been exempted from compiling a
manual.
Which private bodies do not have to publish an information manual?
The way the Act is worded is to require ALL private bodies to compile a manual. However,
this general provision is subject to the Minister’s ability to exempt certain private bodies or
categories of bodies from having to publish a manual. At present, the Minister has
exempted ALL private bodies from having to compile manuals until 31 December 2015
UNLESS the body falls within the categories detailed below.
South African Human Rights Commission
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