When you use PAIA to request access to a public body’s information, you usually have to pay some fees. You might pay a fee for requesting the information and an additional fee for accessing the actual information. Sometimes you might have to pay a deposit. It’s always best to know what you might pay for.

Are these the minimum fees?

Yes, the prescribed fees are the minimum fees a public body can charge.

Do the fees include VAT?

Public bodies who are VAT vendors can add VAT to the prescribed fees.

Can I charge more than the prescribed fees?

No, you can’t charge more than the prescribed fees, it is unlawful. A requester can complain to the information regulator if the fees are excessive.

Can you be exempt from paying fees?

A requester does not need to pay an access fee to a public body if:

  • they are a single person whose annual income, after permissible deductions (such as PAYE and UIF), is less than R14 712.00 a year, or
  • they are married and the joint income with their partner, after permissible deductions (such as PAYE and UIF), is less than R27 192.00 per year.

Please note: these are not the fees Michalsons charges to get access to Michalsons’ records. These are the fees that any holder of information can charge for access to their records.

Item Description Amount
1. Request fee, payable by every requester R100.00
2. Photocopy or printed black & white copy for every A4 page R1.50 per page or part of the page
3. Printed copy of A4-size page R1.50 per page or part of the page
4. For a copy in a computer-readable form on:

  • a flash drive (provided by the requester)
  • a compact disc (CD) if the requester provides the CD to us
  • a compact disc (CD) if we give the CD to the requester
 R40.00

R40.00

R60.00
5. For a transcription of visual images, for an A4-size page or part of the page This service will be outsourced. The fee will depend on the quotation from the service provider.
6. For a copy of visual images This service will be outsourced. The fee will depend on the quotation from the service provider.
7. For a transcription of an audio record, per A4-size page R24.00
8. For a copy of an audio record on a flash drive (provided by the requester)

For a copy of an audio record on compact disc (CD) if the requester provides the CD to us

For a copy of an audio record on compact disc (CD) if we give the CD to the requester

 R40.00

R40.00

R60.00
9. For each hour or part of an hour (excluding the first hour) reasonably required to search for, and prepare the record for disclosure

The search and preparation fee cannot exceed

 R100.00

R300.00
10. Deposit: if the search exceeds 6 hours One-third of the amount per request. It is calculated in terms of items 2 to 8 above.
11. Postage, email or any other electronic transfer Actual expense, if any.

If you want access to information, make sure you request it from the holder of the information. To find out how to do that, use their PAIA manual, which includes the steps you need to take to access their information.