Course Details:

Introduction to the PAIA course:

Welcome to the course on the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).

This is a self-paced online course that is aimed at making employees aware of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the related implementation processes. Additionally, the course content is developed to familiarize employees with the relevant forms to be completed when requesting information and the related processes. On completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the background of PAIA.
• Explain the purpose of PAIA.
• Explain the procedures to be followed in requesting information.
• Describe the internal appeals process.
• Explain the importance of good records management for PAIA.

The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) is legislation that was passed in South Africa to promote transparency and accountability amongst the public and private sectors in South Africa. PAIA ensures that individuals have the right to access information held by organisations in both the public and private sectors. This allows individuals to request access to information from public and private organisations, subject to certain limitations as well as certain exceptions as stipulated in the Act. In most cases, this will greatly assist individuals to make well-informed decisions and contribute effectively to the public. PAIA helps encourage and promote trust between the different spheres of government and the public. The Act itself aims to promote good governance practices in our country.

The difference between PAIA and POPIA

In South Africa, the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) are separate parts of legislation with different purposes. While both Acts aim to promote transparency and protect rights and the rights of our citizens, it is important to note that PAIA focuses on access to information, while POPIA focuses on protecting personal data.