Zeda PAIA and POPIA 

What is PAIA?

The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) – effective 9 March 2001 – states that everyone has the right to access any information held by the state or by another person that is required for the exercise and protection of any rights. This information must be quick, effortless and inexpensive to access, to uphold values of transparency, accountability, efficient governance and compliance with the law.

The Act is mindful of all other rights entrenched in the Constitution, ensuring that privacy and confidential documents remain protected. It is aimed at creating an open, empowering and democratic society that supports a culture of human rights and social justice.

What is POPIA?

The POPI Act (POPIA) was signed into law in November 2013 and the remaining provisions of the Act were due to come into effect on 1 April 2020.

The purpose of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is to protect people from harm by protecting their personal information. To stop their money being stolen, to stop their identity being stolen, and generally to protect their privacy, which is a fundamental human right.

To achieve this, the Protection of Personal Information Act sets conditions for when it is lawful for someone to process someone else’s personal information.