Table of contents
Foreword by the Chief Executive Officer........................................................................................... 6
Finding your way around the PAIA Guide ......................................................................................... 7
Useful terms ..................................................................................................................................... 8
List of abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... 10
SECTION 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 11
1.1.
The purpose of this PAIA Guide ....................................................................................... 12
1.2.
The history of PAIA .......................................................................................................... 13
1.3.
The purpose of PAIA and how it can be used .................................................................. 14
1.4.
The role of the South African Human Rights Commission ............................................... 15
SECTION 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 16
2.1
Getting started ................................................................................................................ 17
2.2.
The PAIA Guide................................................................................................................ 18
2.2.1
2.3
Where to find the guide ............................................................................................ 18
PAIA Manuals .................................................................................................................. 20
2.3.1
PAIA manuals for public bodies.................................................................................. 20
2.3.2
Where to find the manual of a public body ............................................................. 21
2.3.4
PAIA manuals for private bodies .............................................................................. 22
2.3.4
Where to find the manual of a private body ............................................................ 24
2.3.5
How to comply if you are a private body ................................................................. 24
2.4
Automatically available information held by a public body ............................................ 25
2.5
Automatically available information held by a private company or body ...................... 27
SECTION 3 ............................................................................................................................... 28
3.
How do I make a PAIA request? .......................................................................................... 29
3.1
Who can make a PAIA request?....................................................................................... 29
3.1.1
How do I fill in a PAIA request form? ....................................................................... 30
3.1.2
Is there a procedure that has to be followed when making a PAIA request? ........... 32
3.2
What is the cost for making a PAIA request? ................................................................... 32
3.2.1
What is the cost for accessing records under PAIA?................................................. 33
South African Human Rights Commission
4