South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)
The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA) gives effect to the constitutional right of access to information held by the state and private bodies. It establishes voluntary and mandatory grounds for disclosure, sets out procedures for requesting information, and defines exemptions. Administered by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Information Regulator.
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Framework Domains (5)
Chapter 1 — Introductory Provisions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PAIA-1.1 | Objects of Act (Section 9) |
| PAIA-1.2 | Guide on How to Use Act (Section 10) |
| SWE-1 | Scope and Purpose |
| SWE-2 | Relationship to GDPR |
Chapter 2 — Access to Records of Public Bodies
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PAIA-2.1 | PAIA Manual for Public Bodies (Section 14) |
| PAIA-2.2 | Voluntary Disclosure and Automatic Availability (Section 15) |
| PAIA-2.3 | Right of Access to Records (Section 11) |
| PAIA-2.4 | Form of Request (Section 18) |
Chapter 3 — Access to Records of Private Bodies
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PAIA-3.1 | PAIA Manual for Private Bodies (Section 51) |
| PAIA-3.2 | Right of Access to Private Body Records (Section 50) |
| PAIA-3.3 | Form of Request for Private Body (Section 53) |
Chapter 4 — Grounds for Refusal of Access
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PAIA-4.1 | Privacy of a Third Party (Section 34/63) |
| PAIA-4.2 | Commercial Information (Section 36/64) |
| PAIA-4.3 | Safety of Individuals (Section 38/66) |
| PAIA-4.4 | Public Interest Override (Section 46/70) |
Chapter 5 — Compliance and Enforcement
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PAIA-5.1 | Internal Appeal (Section 74) |
| PAIA-5.2 | Application to Court (Section 78) |
| PAIA-5.3 | Offences (Section 90) |
Maps to 552 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)?
South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) is a compliance framework from South Africa with 5 domains and 18 controls. The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA) gives effect to the constitutional right of access to information held by the state and private bodies. It establishes voluntary and mandatory grounds for disclosure, sets out procedures for requesting information, and defines exemptions. Administered by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Information Regulator. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) have?
South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) has 18 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Chapter 1 — Introductory Provisions (4 controls), Chapter 2 — Access to Records of Public Bodies (4 controls), Chapter 4 — Grounds for Refusal of Access (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) map to?
South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) maps to 552 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are ASEAN Data Management Framework (28% coverage), EU Taxonomy Regulation (28% coverage), SASB Standards (ISSB Integrated) (28% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with South Africa Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) compliance?
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