About PAIA 

The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA)

Your right of access to information 

PAIA in NIA

On 24 October 2006 the Minister for Intelligence Services, Minister Kasrils, approved the creation of a dedicated PAIA unit within the NIA.

What does PAIA mean for you? 

PAIA gives you the right of access to:

• any information 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. 

This means you can request access to information held by public bodies, as well as from a natural or juristic person (private body). In the case of a request for access to information held by a natural or juristic person, you have to indicate that the information requested is required for the exercise or protection of any rights. 

The right of access to information is your right in terms of section 32 of the Constitution and PAIA gives effect to section 32, by amongst others: 

• providing and detailing the procedures that must be followed in order   to make a   request for information;
• stating from whom you can make a request;
• detailing the duties of the bodies, from whom you have made a request;
• describing what information can be requested;
• describing when the requested information must / may be refused;
• describing what mechanisms and procedures are available to you if   your request for access to information is refused.