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PAIA
The Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act 2 of 2000)
The Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (often referred to as “PAIA”) provides for “the right of access to information” and states that “everyone has the right of access to any information held by the State and to information held by another person that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.” This is to foster a culture of transparency and accountability both in Public and Private Bodies and to promote a society in which the people of South Africa have effective access to information. Examples: “Public Bodies” include National and Provincial Government Departments, Municipalities and State Owned Entities (e.g. Eskom, Telkom etc.) and “Private Bodies” include a natural person or partnership that carries on trade, business or profession; and a former or existing juristic person.
WHAT INFORMATION CAN I REQUEST AND HAVE ACCESS TO FROM THE DEPARTMENT OR ANY PUBLIC BODY FOR THAT MATTER?
Any information or records, including personal information or records, held by the Department or its officials. It does not matter when that information or record came into existence.
WHAT INFORMATION MAY I BE REFUSED ACCESS TO BY THE DEPARTMENT?
The Act is not unlimited, therefore your request may be refused in certain cases (see, sections 7, 12 and Chapter 4 of PAIA). For example, you may not be given access to information under the following circumstances:
- Information or records about another person or entity, subject to access on these records being approved by such third parties, especially if information was given to the Department or Public Body on a confidentiality or privacy basis.
- If the record is requested for the purpose of criminal or civil proceedings, where the criminal or civil proceedings have commenced. If such information is obtained, it may not be used in a court of law, unless the court thinks that the exclusion of such information will be detrimental to the course of justice.
- The records of Cabinet and its Committees, and those records of an individual member of Parliament or of a Provincial Legislature in that capacity.
Please note that the PAIA is above any other legislation that prohibits or restricts you from having access to any information.
DEPARTMENTAL MANUAL
- Section 14 Access to Information Manual:
Section 14 Manual for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. The purpose of the manual is to provide information that shall enable a person to understand the functions of the public body and the records in its custody. Armed with that information a person shall be able to identify the records she/he wants and the procedure to follow to request for access to such records. [Nov 2025]
- Section 15(1) Description list: The Information Officer (Director-General) is required, in terms of section 15(1), to provide a description the category of records that are automatically available. [Sep 2023]
- Section 32 Report: Department’s 2022-2023 s32 report and guidance notes submitted to the SAHRC , 25 August 2023 [451KB]
CONTACTS
The lnformation Officer of the Department of Justice is the Director-General.
Enquiries and Requests for Information should be sent to:
The Information Officer: The Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
The Deputy Information Officer
Mr Witness Ndou
Tel: 012 357 8544, Cell: 082 898 7289, Email: WNdou@justice.gov.za
or
Mr Daniel Seopa
Tel: 012 357 8961, Cell: 072 995 6417, Email: DSeopa@justice.gov.zaPostal Address: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Private Bag x81, PRETORIA, 0001
General email: paia@justice.gov.za
Information Regulator (South Africa)
FORMS
- Go to Forms on the Information Regulator SA's website to view the forms related to the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000(Act No 2 of 2000).
LEGISLATION
- Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act 2 of 2000) Eng
Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Act, 2002 (Act 54 of 2002) Eng
- The Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act 4 of 2013) Eng
The Information Regulator has, under section 112(2) the Act made the regulations relating to the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013), GG 42110, RG 10897, GoN 1383, 14 Dec 2018 (English / Afrikaans)
REGULATIONS
- 2021 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Regulations: Promotion of Access to Information, GG 45057, GoN 757, 27 Aug 2021
- 2007 - PAIA, 2000 - Amendment of Regulations - Insertion of Regulation 5A & 9A (R466 - Eng or Afr)
- 2006 - Government Notice R. 990 of 13 October 2006 was published in Gazette 29278 dated 13 October 2006. Amendment to the PAIA regulations section 91a(7) and section 92(4)
- 2003 - Amended Regulations - The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development has, under section 92 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000), made the regulations in the Schedule. (R1244 - ENG or AFR)
- 2003 - Notice 25411: Amendment of regulations regarding the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Eng or Afr)
- 2002 - Regulations relating to the Promotion of Access to Information, 15 February 2002 (R. 187)
- 2001 - Regulations relating to the Promotion of Access to Information, 09 March 2001 (R.223)
GAZETTE NOTICES
- 2025.04.14: GG 52523, GoN 6126 - Protection of Personal Information Act: Regulations: Amendment
- 2022.10.07: GG 47257, GoN 2602 - Protection of Personal Information Act: Code of Conduct: Credit Bureau Association (CBA)
- 2022.10.07: GG 47257, GeN 2601 - Protection of Personal Information Act: Code of Conduct: Banking Association South Africa (BASA)
- 2021.11.16: GG 45492, GoN 1504 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Regulations [Updated PAIA Guide]
- 2021.08.27: GG 45057, GoN 757 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Regulation: Promotion of Access to Information
- 2021.06.30: GG 44785, GeN 397 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Exemption of certain private bodies from compiling manual
- 2021.04.01: GG 44403, P 10 - Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Act : Commencement of Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Act (English / Afrikaans)
- 2021.04.01: GG 44404, GoN 307 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Amendment of regulations (English / Afrikaans)
- 2019.10.04: GG 42740, RG 10991, GoN 1284 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Rules: Procedure for application to court. Rules and Administrative Review Rules (English / isiXhosa)
- 2017.09.08: GG 41100, GoN 697 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Description Sec 15(1): Department of Justice and Constitutional Development,
- 2017.09.08: GG 41100, GeN 698 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Manuals: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2017.09.08: GG 41100, GeN 694 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Description: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2015.12.11: GG 39504, GeN 1222 - Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000) Exemption of certain private bodies from compiling manual
- 2015.08.11: GG 39081 [605kb] Promotion of Access to Information Act: Manual: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2015.07.10: GG 38960, GoN 587 [336kb] Promotion of Access to Information Act: Description Sec 15(1): Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2015.07.08: GG 38972 [670mb] Promotion of Access to Information Act: Manual: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2014.07.08: GG 37814 [1mb] Promotion of Access to Information Act: Manual: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2013.08.26: GG 36789 [374kb] Promotion of Access to Information Act: Manual: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2012 07 05: GG 35497 [715kb] Promotion of Access to Information Act: Manual: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- 2011 12 30 - GG 34914, GoN 1091 [220kb] Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No.2 of 2000): Exemption of certain private bodies from compiling Manual
- 2005 - GG 28107, RG 8325, GoN 991 - Promotion of Access to Information Act: Exemptions and determinations
- 2005 - GG 25142, Notice R938 : Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000 (Act 2 of 2000): Exemption of Certain Private Bodies to Compile Manual
- 2003 - Notice 25142 : Designation of Magistrates' Courts under the definition of "Court" in the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000)
- 2003 - GG 25410, Notice 1243: Exemption of Private Bodies, Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2002 (Act 2 of 2000)
- 2000 - GG 21362, Notice 2555: The implementation of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000