POPIA Act Manual
BACKGROUND TO THE PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT
- The Promotion of Access to Information Act, No 2 of 2000 (“the Act”) was enacted on 3 February 2000, giving effect to the constitutional right in terms Section 32 of the Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996 (“the Constitution”) of access to any information held by the State and any information that is held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.
- In terms of Section 52 of the Act, all Private Bodies are required to compile an Information Manual (“PAIA Manual”).
- Where a request is made in terms of the Act, the body to whom the request is made is obliged to release the information, subject to applicable legislative and / or regulatory requirements, except where the Act expressly provides that the information may or must not be released. The Act sets out the relevant procedure to be adopted when requesting information from a Public or a Private Body.
POLOKWANE CHEMICAL SUPPLIERS
- Polokwane Chemical Suppliers is a Private Company established in accordance with the laws of South Africa with Enterprise Number: 2021/362843/07.
- This PAIA Manual is relevant and is available to view at its premises: 15 Tin Street, Laboria, Polokwane as well as on its website: www.pcs-phatsima.co.za
INFORMATION PAIA MANUAL
Document No: Approved By Revision No: Effective Date
PCS-PL-016 General Manager 00 19 April 2021
Page 4 of 29
PURPOSE OF THE PAIA MANUAL
- This PAIA Manual is intended to ensure that Polokwane Chemical Suppliers complies with the Act and to foster a culture of transparency and accountability with Polokwane Chemical Suppliers by giving effect to the right to information that is required for the exercise or protection of any right and to actively promote a society in which the people of South Africa have effective access to information to enable them to exercise and protect their rights.
- In order to promote effective governance of private bodies, it is necessary to ensure that everyone empowered and educated to understand their rights in terms of the Act in order for them to exercise their rights in relation to Public and Private Bodies.
- Section 9 of the Act recognizes that the right to access information cannot be unlimited and should be subject to justifiable limitations, including, but not limited to:
- Limitations aimed at the reasonable protection of privacy;
- Commercial confidentiality; and
- Effective, efficient and good governance; and
- In a manner which balances that right with any other rights, including such rights contained in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.
- This PAIA Manual has been drafted in accordance with the requirements of the Promotion of Access to Information Act No. 2 of 2000.
- In addition, this PAIA Manual complies with the requirements of Section 10 of the Act and recognizes that upon commencement of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013, that the appointed Information Regulator will be responsible to regulate compliance with the Act and its Regulations by Public and Private Bodies.