Session helps to unpack POPI and PAIA Acts

POLOKWANE – Information Regulator South Africa conducted a stakeholder engagement breakfast on March 24 at Garden Court Polokwane.

The independent body of the regulator saw fit to unpack the importance of understanding two acts in particular.

The Popi Act promotes the protection of information processed by public and private bodies while the PAIA Act gives effect to the constitutional right of access to any information held by the state and any information held by another person that is required for the exercise or protection of any right.

Since businesses have access to personal information that can be used to identify a natural person or legal entity or link information to that person, these businesses must comply with the laws governing the processing of personal information.

This relates to a question one of the guests posed regarding the need for individual PAIA manuals and codes of conduct for various departments within an office.

Information Regulator spokesperson, Nomzamo Zondi said because they are still new, it is important to make the introduction to the province and simplify the Popi and Paia.

“We are here to introduce ourselves to these stakeholders and engage with them on matters concerning these pieces of legislation. With this engagement we hope that the various professionals and individuals will go on to advocate for transparency and be compliant with these laws,” she added.

Paia executive Ntsumbedzeni Nemasisi outlined the issues of compliance and urged organisations to make accessible a Paia manual in at least three official languages and material that is automatically available to the public without filing a formal request.

“In the new financial year, our focus is on the political parties, universities, national and provincial departments and JSE-listed companies,” outlined Nemasisi.