2.1 Getting started
The purpose of the PAIA Act is to actively promote a society in which the people of South
Africa have effective access to information to enable them to more fully exercise and
protect all of their rights. But sometimes one may be unsure of where to start or how to
actually go about accessing information in the way that the Act prescribes. The Act foresees
this problem and actually mandates that certain guides and manuals be published to
roadmap the way forward for information seekers. This section will provide an overview of
these guides and manuals, the responsibilities of the publishers of these guides and
manuals, and, most importantly, where to find them.
Of course, one of the most powerful tools one can use to gain access to information is the
formal request for information made in terms of the PAIA Act, which this guide will assist
you to make. But remember, this is not the only avenue with which to pursue information.
Some information is available automatically without even having to make a formal PAIA
request. In some cases, legislation actually requires both public and private bodies to
disclose certain information publicly. This section also provides an overview of where to
access this information.
The Promotion of Access to Information Act is intended to be an empowering
piece of legislation that assists all South Africans. It is intended to be a law that is easy
to understand and that anyone can use. One does not need a lawyer to make a request
for information in terms of this Act. This guide has been published so as to assist South
Africans from all walks of life to uphold their constitutionally enshrined rights.
South African Human Rights Commission
17