Welcome to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

About PAIA

Constitution says:

Section 32(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, No. 108 of 1996 (hereinafter referred to as “the Constitution”) provides that everyone has a right of access to any information held by the state and any information held by another person that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.

Summary of the Act:

The Promotion of Access to Information Act, No. 2 of 2000 (hereinafter referred to as “PAIA” or “the Act”) is the National legislation which was enacted to give effect to the Constitutional Right of Access to Information. PAIA was promulgated in 2000, and came into operation on 9 March 2001, and section 14 for public bodies and 51 for private bodies came into operation on 15 February 2002.

What is the objective of this act?

• To promote transparency, accountability and effective governance of all public and private bodies, by empowering and educating everyone to understand their rights in terms of PAIA so that they are able to exercise their right in relation to public and private bodies, to understand the functions and operation of national spheres/public bodies, and to
• Effectively scrutinize, and participate in decision making by public bodies that affects their rights.
• To ensure that the state takes part in promoting a human rights culture and social justice.
• To encourage openness and to establish voluntary and mandatory mechanisms or procedures which give effect to the right of access to information in a speedy, inexpensive and effortless manner as reasonable possible.

The aim of the PAIA act

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; and to provide for matters connected the State must respect, protect, promote and fulfill, at least, all the rights in the Bill of Rights which is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa;

  • the right of access to any information held by a public or private body may be Limited to the extent that the limitations are reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom as Contemplated in section 36 of the Constitution;
  • reasonable legislative measures may, in terms of section 32(2) of the Constitution, be provided to alleviate the administrative and financial burden on the State in giving effect to its obligation to promote and fulfill the right of access to information.

Documents relating to the act: