PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION MANUAL
- The promotion of access to information act (No.2 of 2000), was enacted to give effect to the right of access to information contained in section 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act no 108 of 1996). It was promulgated in order to
foster a culture of transparency and accountability in Public bodies and Private bodies. - The proclamation of the Geoscience Act (Act 100 of 1993) and its Amendment (Act
no. 16 of 2010) states that geoscience data and information records the CGS published
in the form of maps, documents and databases, is to be made available to
stakeholders. This manual informs a requester on how to obtain access to records held by the Council for Geoscience (CGS). - Section 14 of PAIA act of 2000, requires both public and private bodies to compile manuals that provide information on both the types and categories of records held by such public and private bodies. The CGS is a public body under paragraph (b) (ii) of
the definition of “public body” in section 1 of the Act. - This document serves as the CGS manual with regards to information or records in relation to which the CGS is a public body. It provides reference to the records held and the process that needs to be followed to request access to such records as required by section 14 of PAIA.
- This manual does not replace the act but must be read in conjunction with the act. Sections 34 to 46 of the PAIA act stipulates the grounds for refusing access to
information. In considering whether to provide access to information, the CGS must consider grounds for refusing access to information set out in the PAIA..
