PAIA Manual

Section 32 of the Constitution provides for the right of access to information held by another Person when that information is required for the exercise or protection of any right. To give effect to this Constitutional right, the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) was enacted by Parliament in 2000 and regulations promulgated by the Minister of Justice in 2001. As no right is absolute, the right of access to information held by a Public or Private Body may be limited to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality, and freedom. POPIA, on the other hand explicitly protects Personal Information. Consideration of access to information is a process of balancing of rights.