Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)

Welcome to the Promotion of Access to Information Act (often called PAIA) in the form of a website so everyone can access it quickly on all devices. It is so much better than a PAIA pdf. You can also link to (or share) a specific section. We hope it empowers you and you find it helpful. This is PAIA as enacted by the South African Parliament, but we have reformatted it in the form of a website. The English text was signed by the President. We have shortened the names of some chapters in the navigation on the left to make it easier for you to navigate. We disclaim all liability.

Actions you can take

• • You can read a plain language summary of PAIA,
  • Attend a PAIA workshop,
  • Read PAIA judgment summaries,
  • Join an Access to Information programme to help you take the necessary action to comply, or
  • Download a free PAIA manual template for use by private bodies with a low public interest score.

  Please note that we are not the Information Regulator who regulates PAIA. You can visit their website or email them.

  The commencement date of PAIA

  PAIA came into operation on 9 March 2001, except for sections 10 (Guide on how to use Act), 14 (Manual on functions of, and index of records held by, public body), 16 (Information in telephone directory) and 51 Manual). These sections 10, 14, 16 and 51 came into operation on 15 February 2002. Section 110 was the last one to come into operation on 30 June 2021.

  Topics related to the PAIA

  • Access request
  • Access to information
  • Assessment
  • Automatic availability
  • Enforcement Notice
  • Functions of Information Regulator
  • Information Notice
  • Manual
  • Non-compliance with Enforcement Notice
  • Offences
  • PAIA guide
  • POPIA
  • Records
  • Short title and commencement
  • Third party notification
  • Training of presiding officers
  • Voluntary disclosure