3.3
Can an Information Officer help me make a PAIA request?............................................. 35
3.4
What legal remedies do I have when my PAIA request is denied? .................................. 38
3.4.1
Legal Recourse against Public Bodies ....................................................................... 39
3.4.1.1.
Who may lodge an internal appeal? .................................................................... 39
3.4.1.2
When may you lodge an internal appeal?................................................................ 40
3.4.1.3
How do I make an internal appeal? ......................................................................... 41
3.4.1.4 What happens when an internal appeal is lodged after the expiry date of the
prescribed period? .................................................................................................................. 42
3.4.1.5
What are the fees for internal appeals?................................................................... 43
3.4.2.
Legal Recourse against Private Bodies ..................................................................... 43
3.4.3.
What will happen to my case in court? .................................................................... 44
SECTION 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 45
4.1.
When Access to Information may be Refused ................................................................. 46
4.2.
Mandatory v Discretional grounds for refusing access to information ............................ 47
4.3.
Grounds for refusal of access to information .................................................................. 48
4.3.1.
Protection of the privacy of a third party ................................................................. 48
4.3.2.
Protection of commercial information of a third party ............................................ 50
4.3.3.
Protection of confidential information .................................................................... 51
4.3.4.
Protection of the safety of individual and property ................................................. 51
4.3.5.
Protection of information in legal proceedings ........................................................ 52
4.3.6.
Protection of Research Information ......................................................................... 52
4.3.7.
Information which may be refused access to ........................................................... 53
4.4.
Public Interest Override................................................................................................... 55
SECTION 5 ....................................................................................................................................... 56
5.1. Key references ..................................................................................................................... 57
5.2. PAIA Regulations ................................................................................................................. 57
5.3. PAIA Amendments .............................................................................................................. 58
5.4. Amendments to PAIA Regulations ....................................................................................... 59
5.5. Other useful PAIA resources ................................................................................................ 59
South African Human Rights Commission
5