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 annual performance plan for 2025 to 2026 APP

The information regulator has presented its draft annual performance plan (regulator APP) for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. It has presented them in different formats to different audiences. For example, the regulator held a stakeholder engagement on 5 [...]

By |2025-03-26T11:52:16+02:00March 5th, 2025|Categories: Access to Information, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , |
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Access to Information Manual | Draft or review

Do you need an Access to Information manual? What is it anyway? The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) says that all public and private bodies in South Africa need to create a manual that contains, amongst other things: [...]

By |2025-09-09T20:13:45+02:00February 18th, 2025|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , |
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PAIA compliance assessments by information regulator

South Africa’s Information Regulator conducts PAIA compliance assessments on public and private bodies in terms of section 77H of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). PAIA plays a crucial role in an organisation's transparency and accountability to the [...]

By |2025-03-04T14:40:18+02:00February 12th, 2025|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , , , |
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Swartkops Sea Salt enforcement action | Review of PAIA enforcement notice

The Swartkops Sea Salt enforcement action regarding PAIA is now before the courts after Swartkops took the regulator’s enforcement notice on review. This action is a reminder that refusing a PAIA request can lead to regulatory enforcement and costly litigation. […]

By |2026-08-07T15:54:12+02:00November 7th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information|Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Navigating AI Governance in South African Law: An Overview

Building AI without legal guidance is like constructing a bridge without blueprints—it might stand for a while, but it's destined to collapse. As AI continues to rapidly integrate into the South African business environment, aligning it and its use [...]

By |2026-02-10T14:52:49+02:00September 30th, 2024|Categories: Access to Information, AI Governance, Cybercrime, Data governance, POPI and Data Protection|Tags: , , , |
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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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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 |2026-02-12T15:08:23+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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