Page:Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000.djvu/27

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Government Gazette, 3 February 2000
No. 2085227

Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000
Act No. 2, 2000

(ii)

the disclosure of the record could, by premature disclosure of a policy or contemplated policy, reasonably be expected to frustrate the success of that policy.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), the information officer of a public body may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if—

(a)

the disclosure of the record could reasonably be expected to jeopardise the effectiveness of a testing, examining or auditing procedure or method used by a public body;

(b)

the record contains evaluative material, whether or not the person who supplied it is identified in the record, and the disclosure of the material would breach an express or implied promise which was—

(i)

made to the person who supplied the material; and

(ii)

to the effect that the material or the identity of the person who supplied it, or both, would be held in confidence; or

(c)

the record contains a preliminary, working or other draft of an official of a public body.

(3) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) if the record came into existence more than 20 years before the request concerned.

(4) A record may not be refused in terms of subsection (1) or (2) insofar as it consists of an account of, or a statement of reasons required to be given in accordance with section 5 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000.


Manifestly frivolous or vexatious requests, or substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources

45. The information officer of a public body may refuse a request for access to a record of the body if—

(a)

the request is manifestly frivolous or vexatious; or

(b)

the work involved in processing the request would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the public body.


Mandatory disclosure in public interest

46. Despite any other provision of this Chapter, the information officer of a public body must grant a request for access to a record of the body contemplated in section 34(1), 36(1), 37(1)(a) or (b), 38(a) or (b), 39(1)(a) or (b), 40, 41(1)(a) or (b), 42(1) or (3), 43(1) or (2), 44(1) or (2) or 45, if—

(a)

the disclosure of the record would reveal evidence of—

(i)

a substantial contravention of, or failure to comply with, the law; or

(ii)

an imminent and serious public safety or environmental risk; and

(b)

the public interest in the disclosure of the record clearly outweighs the harm contemplated in the provision in question.


Chapter 5
Third party notification and intervention


Notice to third parties

47. (1) The information officer of a public body considering a request for access to a record that might be a record contemplated in section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1), 37(1) or 43(1) must take all reasonable steps to inform a third party to whom or which the record relates of the request.

(2) The information officer must inform a third party in terms of subsection (1)—

(a)

as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event, within 21 days after that request is received or transferred; and

(b)

by the fastest means reasonably possible.

(3) When informing a third party in terms of subsection (1), the infonnation officer must—

(a)

state that he or she is considering a request for access to a record that might be a record contemplated in section 34(1), 35(1), 36(1), 37(1) or 43(1), as the case may be, and describe the content of the record;

(b)

furnish the name of the requester;