1.4.
The role of the South African Human
Rights Commission
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is mandated under PAIA to:
Promote the right of access to information
Monitor the implementaiton of PAIA by public and
private bodies
Make recommendations to strengthen the Act
Report annually to Parliament
The Protection of Personal Information Act
The Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (PPIA) amends PAIA in a number of
ways. One of the keys ways in which this Act changes PAIA relates to the role of the SAHRC.
Under PPIA the SAHRC’s functions in terms of PAIA will be transferred to the Information
Regulator, a new independent body which will be set up to monitor both the PPIA and PAIA,
and to handle complaints relating to access to information and the protection of personal
information.
However, the SAHRC will still retain its Constitutional obligation to promote, protect and
monitor the right of access to information as with all other rights enshrined in the Bill of
Rights.
South African Human Rights Commission
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