Access to Information

Access to Information is regulated by law in many countries around the world. For example, the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA, or PAI Act) in South Africa. It is crucial to strike a balance between this critical right and the right to privacy. Read our insights, regulatory updates, judgment summaries, enforcement action (including fines and notes), data breaches or authority guidance.

Information Regulator aims to step up enforcement

The information regulator briefed the public and the media on 11 September 2024 on some enforcement activities over the last quarter (since 1 April 2024). The central theme was that the regulator has taken various enforcement actions but hasn't succeeded [...]

By |2025-08-10T20:59:34+02:00September 12th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , |
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Blouberg Municipality enforcement action | Further processing

The Information Regulator issued an enforcement notice against Blouberg Municipality after a complaint from a former employee. This Blouberg Municipality enforcement action arose because the municipality had unlawfully published the employee’s personal information on its website as part of a [...]

By |2025-09-11T10:26:55+02:00September 11th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , , , , |
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Information Regulator’s media briefing – PAIA points

The Information Regulator's media briefing unpacked PAIA points and gave insights into the state of access to information. These points shed light on successes and areas which need improvement to adhere to PAIA. PAIA points in the Information Regulator's media [...]

By |2025-08-11T06:49:36+02:00August 19th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , , |
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State Security Agency (SSA) enforcement action | ANA expenditure

The Information Regulator issued an enforcement notice to the State Security Agency (SSA) regarding a PAIA record request. The SSA had refused to provide the information to the requester. This refusal prompted the Regulator to investigate and issue the SSA [...]

By |2024-09-11T14:17:33+02:00August 7th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , , , , |
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Guidance note on the processing of personal information of a voter by a political party and independent candidate

The information regulator issued a new guidance note on the processing of personal information of a voter by political parties and independent candidates as well as highlighting how to combat misinformation and disinformation in terms of the provisions of the [...]

By |2024-09-11T14:39:59+02:00May 16th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Nkosi v Johannesburg Municipality | Access to information request

In Nkosi v Johannesburg Municipality, Nkosi requested access to the job evaluation and re-grading records in terms of PAIA. The Johannesburg Municipality refused their request. Who should care about this judgment and why? Employees and workers' trade unions because you [...]

By |2024-07-31T17:32:18+02:00April 18th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , , |
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Ndudane v Financial Intelligence Centre | Access to confidential information

In Ndudane v Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), applicants sought access to confidential information held by the FIC under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (FICA), regarding the termination of their banking services by several major banks in South Africa. The [...]

By |2024-07-31T17:40:15+02:00March 26th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , |
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Afriforum v Eskom | Access to contracts

In Afriforum v Eskom, the parties had a dispute when Eskom refused to grant Afriforum access, under PAIA, to various contracts related to coal and diesel procurement, as well as contracts with neighbouring countries for electricity provision. Who should care [...]

By |2024-07-31T17:41:29+02:00March 22nd, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , , |
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Montrose Mews v Moela

In Montrose Mews v Moela, the court had to intervene and decide whether PAIA applied to information requested by a member of a body corporate. Who should care about this judgment and why? Members of sectional title schemes because the [...]

By |2024-04-30T07:43:03+02:00March 7th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , |
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Biden executive order on American sensitive personal data

There is a new Biden executive order on American sensitive personal data that protects American citizens from exploitation by countries of concern. It relates to sensitive personal data or information. It authorises the Attorney General to prevent the large-scale transfer [...]

By |2025-07-04T07:03:52+02:00March 1st, 2024|Categories: Access to Information, Monitoring Law, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , , , , , |
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Schreiber v ANC

In Schreiber v ANC, Leon Schreiber, a member of the National Assembly representing the DA, requested access to information from the ANC on their National Cadre Deployment Committee's activities. The ANC refused the request, leading Schreiber and the DA [...]

By |2024-07-11T15:12:25+02:00February 14th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , |
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Truth or lies? Deep fakes and other risks

On January 29, 2024, the Information Regulator organised a webinar to discuss the risks of false information in elections. They focused on “disinformation,” which is intentionally misleading false information, and “misinformation,” which is innocently sharing false information believing it [...]

By |2024-02-05T07:47:37+02:00February 2nd, 2024|Categories: Access to Information, Information Law, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , |
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