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Legal

PAIA Manual

Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 — Section 51 Manual

This manual is compiled in accordance with Section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA), which requires all private bodies to make available a manual describing the records they hold and how to request access to them.

Compiled: April 2026·Version 1.0

Purpose of This Manual

The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA) gives effect to the constitutional right of access to information held by public and private bodies. This manual is designed to assist members of the public to understand what records The Zululander holds, how to request access to those records, and what procedures apply to such requests.

1.

Contact Details of The Zululander (Private Body)

Name of Private BodyThe Zululander
Trading NameThe Zululander Digital News
Physical Address[Street address — to be completed], Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal
Postal Address[Postal address — to be completed]
Telephone[Phone number — to be completed]
Email[email protected]
Websitewww.thezululander.co.za
2.

Information Officer

In terms of Section 55 of POPIA and Section 51(1)(a) of PAIA, The Zululander has designated an Information Officer responsible for processing requests for access to records and ensuring compliance with PAIA and POPIA.

Information Officer[Full name — to be completed]
DesignationInformation Officer — The Zululander
Email[email protected]
Phone[Phone number — to be completed]
IR Registration No.[Registration number — pending registration with Information Regulator]

The Information Officer is registered (or in the process of being registered) with the Information Regulator of South Africaas required by POPIA Section 55. Registration is completed via inforegulator.bizportal.gov.za.

3.

Guide on How to Use PAIA

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has compiled a guide on how to use PAIA. This guide is available in all official languages and can be obtained from the SAHRC:

South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)

Website: www.sahrc.org.za
Telephone: 011 877 3600
Email: [email protected]

4.

Categories of Records Held by The Zululander

The following categories of records are held by The Zululander:

A. Editorial and Published Content Records

  • Published news articles and their source materials
  • Photographs and multimedia content
  • Correspondence with sources and contributors
  • Editorial decisions and corrections records

B. Subscriber and User Records

  • Newsletter subscriber lists (name, email, preferences)
  • User account information
  • Subscription and unsubscription records

C. Advertising and Commercial Records

  • Advertising contracts and orders
  • Ad design briefs and creative materials
  • Payment records and invoices
  • Advertiser contact details

D. Business Directory and Property Listing Records

  • Business listing applications and approved listings
  • Property listing submissions and approved listings
  • Contact information of listing submitters

E. Financial Records

  • Invoices and receipts
  • Bank statements and financial statements
  • Tax records (retained for 7 years as required by SARS)

F. Human Resources Records

  • Employee and contractor agreements
  • Payroll records
  • Performance and disciplinary records

G. Corporate and Legal Records

  • Company registration documents
  • Contracts and agreements
  • Legal correspondence
  • Insurance policies
5.

Records Available Without a Formal PAIA Request

The following records are automatically available to the public without a formal PAIA request:

  • All published news articles on our website (freely accessible)
  • This PAIA Manual
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • Our Terms of Service
  • Our Disclaimer
  • Our advertising rates and packages
  • Our business directory and property listings (publicly published)
6.

How to Submit a Request for Access to Records

To request access to records held by The Zululander that are not automatically available, you must submit a formal request using Form C prescribed under PAIA. This form is available from the South African Human Rights Commission website or from our Information Officer upon request.

Request Procedure

  1. Complete Form C (PAIA Request Form) — available from the SAHRC or our Information Officer
  2. Submit the completed form to our Information Officer by email, post, or hand delivery
  3. Pay the prescribed request fee of R50.00 (where applicable) — proof of payment must accompany the request
  4. We will acknowledge receipt within 5 business days
  5. We will respond to your request within 30 days of receipt (extendable by a further 30 days in certain circumstances)

Response Time

30 days from receipt

Post/Hand Delivery

[Address — to be completed]

7.

Grounds for Refusal of Access

The Zululander may refuse access to records on the grounds set out in PAIA, including but not limited to:

  • Protection of the privacy of a third party (personal information of individuals)
  • Protection of confidential commercial information
  • Protection of journalistic sources and unpublished editorial materials
  • Records subject to legal professional privilege
  • Records whose disclosure would endanger the life or safety of an individual
  • Records that are not in our possession or under our control

If access is refused, you will be notified in writing with reasons. You have the right to appeal the refusal to the Information Regulator or approach a court for relief.

8.

Prescribed Fees

Fee TypeAmount
Request fee (non-refundable)R50.00
Photocopy (per page)R1.10
Printed copy (per page)R0.75
Electronic copy (per megabyte)R40.00
Inspection of records (per hour)R30.00
Indigent requestors (where applicable)No fee

Fees are prescribed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. No request fee is payable by a personal requester seeking access to their own personal information.

9.

Information Regulator Contact Details

If you are dissatisfied with our response to a PAIA request, or wish to lodge a complaint about our handling of personal information under POPIA, you may contact the Information Regulator of South Africa:

Information Regulator of South Africa

JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001
P.O. Box 31533, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
Website: inforegulator.org.za
Email: [email protected]
Complaints email: [email protected] | [email protected]
Telephone: 010 023 5207