PAIA Manual

1. Purpose

This manual is published for OpenComments to explain how to request access to records under the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA) and how to exercise related personal information rights under POPIA.

2. Company and Information Officer

3. Categories of Records Held

• Company administration and statutory records.
• Product, technical, security, and operational records.
• User account, profile, consent, submission, and support records.
• Email delivery, audit, incident, and access-control records.
• Supplier, hosting, data-processing, and service-provider records.
• Public government policy documents and related metadata aggregated by the platform.

4. How to Request Access

Submit PAIA and POPIA requests to privacy@opencomments.co.za. Include your full name, contact details, proof of identity, the record or personal information requested, and whether you request access, correction, deletion, or objection.

We may request additional information to verify identity or authority before disclosing records. Access may be refused where PAIA allows refusal, including protection of third-party privacy, confidential information, legal privilege, safety, or commercial information.

5. Fees and Response Times

We will confirm whether any prescribed PAIA fee applies before processing a request that attracts a fee. POPIA access, correction, and deletion requests are handled within a reasonable period and generally within 30 days unless the request is complex or legally extended.

6. Information Regulator