POPIA AND PAIA: SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL PAIA REPORTS AND REGISTRATION OF INFORMATION OFFICERS

Dear employer

On 22 April 2024, the Information Regulator published a notice (‘the notice’) to all private and public bodies, reminding them to, in compliance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), submit their annual PAIA reports.

These reports indicate to the Information Regulator the number, type and outcomes of access to information requests received by the private or public body.

As per the notice, the portal for submission of ‘access to information annual reports’ will only be live and accessible from tomorrow, 1 May 2024 and will close on 30 June 2024.

The notice furthermore states that once the online portal has gone live, a step-by-step guide on how to register and how to submit your annual report will be available on the eServices Portal and Regulator’s website.

The Information Officers of all private and public bodies are herewith reminded to submit these reports before the closing date.

In addition to the submission of the PAIA reports, NEASA has recently received an email from the Information Regulator, indicating that all the current registered Information Officer and/or Deputy Information Officer(s) will have to start the whole registration process over again on the new portal.

Businesses are advised NOT TO ATTEMPT TO REGISTER THEIR INFORMATION OFFICERS PRIOR TO THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW PORTAL, as it seems the current online portal of the Regulator is DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE for the submission of information.

Rona Bekker is the Policy Manager at the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA).

For more information

NEASA Media Department

media@neasa.co.za