introductory presentation on promotion of access to ...€¦ · introductory presentation on...
TRANSCRIPT
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Introductory presentation on
Promotion of Access to
Information Act
15 June 2012
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SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE ACT
The Spatial Data Infrastructure Act, 2003 applies
to all organs of state which hold spatial
information as well as users of such spatial
information
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OBJECTIVES
• The objectives of the SDI Act are, inter alia, to-
Facilitate the capture of spatial information
through co-operation among organs of
state
Create an environment which facilitates co-
ordination regarding access to spatial
information
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PURPOSE
• The purpose of the SDI Act can be
summarised as the promotion of the sharing
of spatial information
• It is essential that spatial data be used and
shared to support spatial planning, socio–
economic development and related
activities
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COMMITTEE
• The SDI Act established the Committee for
Spatial Information
• This Committee must, inter alia, facilitate an
environment for the efficient collection and
distribution of spatial information
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PERFORMANCE OF FUNCTIONS
• It is clear from the provisions of the SDI Act that all
powers exercised and functions performed in
terms of the Act, must be exercised and
performed in a manner that will not encroach on
copyright and that will give effect to the
principles entrenched in the Promotion of Access
to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA)
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PAIA
• It is against this background that we will
briefly discuss the provisions of the Promotion
of Access to Information Act
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CONSTITUTION
• Section 32
• Every person has the right of access to
records in possession of a public body
• National legislation
• PAIA
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CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
• Anyone may request access to records in
possession of a public body
• Cannot request persons to justify their interest in
the records sought
• Right applies to records in possession of all public
bodies
Private bodies
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PURPOSE OF PAIA
• Promote culture of transparency and
accountability
• Protect and give effect to right of access to
information
• Afford opportunity to be involved in decision
making
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OBJECT OF THE PAIA
• To make public sector more open and
accountable
• Help people to understand better how
public authorities carry out their duties
• Assist people to understand why a public
authority made a decision
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PRINCIPLE
• In terms of section 11 any requester has an in
principle right of access to any record in
possession of or under the control of a public
body
• Must comply with procedural requirements
• Subject to justifiable limitation as prescribed
in the PAIA
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RIGHT OF ACCESS TO RECORDS
The right of access to records of a public body is
not affected by –
any reasons the requester gives for requesting
access
the information officer’s belief as to what the
requester’s reasons are for requesting access
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PUBLIC BODY (def in PAIA)
• Any Department of State or Administration in the
National or Provincial sphere of government or any
municipality in the local sphere of government
• Any other functionary –
Exercising a power / performing a duty in terms of
the Constitution or Provincial Constitution
Exercising a public power / performing a public
function in terms of any legislation
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RECORD
Means any recorded information –
• regardless of form or medium
• in possession / under control of that public
body
• irrespective of whether it was created by
that public body or not
• irrespective of when it was created
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REQUESTER
A requester means any person -
• other than a provincial department, provincial
government, national department or municipality in
the local sphere of government, or an official acting
on its behalf requesting a record from any of these
- requesting access to a record from a public body
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INTERESTING OBSERVATION
Although the Constitution refers to access
to information, PAIA deals with access to
records
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RECORD KEEPING
• Access to records means by implication that record
keeping is of the utmost importance
• One of the principles of a democracy is that the
state actually gathers and stores records on behalf
of the citizenry
• Therefore access to records should follow a simple
request procedure and NOT only be provided on a
need to know basis
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PRESERVATION OF RECORDS
• All public bodies are subject to
provisions of Archives Act
• Records must be preserved until all
proceedings in connection with the
request for access to a record has
been finalised
(Section 21)
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DUTY TO ASSIST REQUESTERS
• Must provide assistance to requesters as
provided for in sections 18 and 19
• Inform requester of requirement to complete
Annexure A and pay a request fee of R35-00
/ automatically available records
• Refer to correct “public body” (department)
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STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS
• Section 14 requires that manuals on, inter alia, the
functions of public bodies be published
• Section 12 of the SDI Act specifically makes provision for a
data custodian (organ of state) to include spatial
information held in accordance with the SDI in the
section 14 manual
• Proper communication between the relevant
functionaries within a public body is therefore important
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AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION
• Public bodies are required to submit lists of
automatically available information to the
Minister of Justice and Constitutional
Development for publication in the Government
Gazette (in terms of section 15)
• This section on automatically available
information also forms part of the section 14
manuals
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REQUEST FORM
Annexure A
• Makes provision to state the particular
language / form (medium) in which the
record must be made available
• No obligation to translate (Section 31)
• Right to appeal if not in form / medium s
requested
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PERIOD TOP DEAL WITH REQUEST
Section 25 – 30 days to deal with request
Section 26 – Extension of period
Section 27 – Failure to deal with request
within prescribed period
regarded as refusal
Section 28 – Severability
State adequate reasons for refusal –
including provisions of PAIA relied upon
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RECORD THAT CANNOT BE FOUND / DOES NOT EXIST
• Records that cannot be found / do not
exist – section 23
• Affidavit
• Will be regarded as refusal
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FEES
Request fees (R35-00)
• Must be paid before processing of the request
• Prescribed by regulation
Access fees (Section 22)
• Calculate:
Cost of making copies
Time reasonably required to search for and
prepare record
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THIRD PARTY
Any other person than requester or public body
Inform third party -
• considering request
• content of request / record
• name of requester
• in terms of which section it can be refused
• right to make representations
• consent for disclosure of record
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INTERNAL APPEALS
• Most public bodies have an internal appeals process
• Appeal against
Requester
Amount of access fees
Payment of deposit (Access fee)
Decision to refuse access to record
Form/medium of record
Third party
Disclosure of record
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APPLICATIONS TO COURTS
• After requester or third party has
exhausted the internal appeal
procedure, he/she may approach a
court of law
• Ask for appropriate order
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GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL
• Chapter 4 deals with grounds for
refusal
• Some discretionary / some mandatory
• Only grounds in terms of which access
may be refused
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GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL
• Mandatory protection of the privacy of a
third party who is a natural person
• Mandatory protection of commercial
information of a third party
• Mandatory protection of certain
confidential information of a third party
MISS
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GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL
• Mandatory protection of the safety of
individuals and property
• Mandatory protection of research
information of a third party, and protection
of research information of a public body
• Operations of public bodies
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GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL
• Manifestly frivolous or vexatious requests, or
substantial and unreasonable diversion of
resources
• Mandatory disclosure in public interest
• Judgments
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OFFENCES
• No person is criminally or civilly liable for anything
done in good faith in the exercise or performance of
any power or duty in terms of the PAIA (Section 89)
• Commits an offence and liable to a
fine/imprisonment if-
Destroys, damages or alters a record
Conceals a record
Falsifies a record/ make a false record
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Thank you