PAIA Manual

1. Private body particulars

2. The Information Regulator’s PAIA Guide

The Information Regulator has published a Guide explaining how to use PAIA, the available remedies and the applicable forms and fees. The Guide and official forms are available from the Information Regulator’s website and offices.

PAIA information, Guide and forms: https://inforegulator.org.za/paia/

Information Regulator: Woodmead North Office Park, 54 Maxwell Drive, Woodmead, Johannesburg, 2191; telephone 010 023 5200; enquiries@inforegulator.org.za.

3. Records available without a formal PAIA request

The following records are ordinarily available through the public website or the usual business contact process without completing Form 2, subject to change and any lawful restriction:

• Published website content, legal policies and public notices.
• Public member firm and attorney directory information.
• Published articles, Expert Contributions, polls and public reports.
• Lawryse contact and company-identification information.
• A person’s own routine account, invoice or payment statement where identity and authority are verified.
• Records that another law expressly requires Lawryse to make publicly available.

Making a category publicly available does not waive confidentiality, privacy, copyright or another lawful ground for refusing access to a different record.

4. Records held under other legislation

Lawryse may hold records required by legislation that applies to its activities, including the Companies Act, Income Tax Act, Value-Added Tax Act when applicable, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Labour Relations Act, Employment Equity Act where applicable, Unemployment Insurance legislation, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, Consumer Protection Act, Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, Copyright Act, POPIA and PAIA.

This list is not exhaustive. Access under another Act remains subject to that Act’s procedures and restrictions.

5. Subjects and categories of records

6. Personal information processed under POPIA

Lawryse processes personal information for the purposes described in its Privacy Policy. The following summary supports the PAIA Manual requirements and does not replace that Policy.

7. Recipients and international transfers

Depending on the purpose, personal information may be received by eligible LARIA firms, hosting and database providers, authentication, payment, email and SMS providers, editors and authorised contractors, accountants, auditors, insurers, professional advisers, regulators and courts. Public profile and publication information is available to website users.

Some operators may process information outside South Africa. Lawryse uses an applicable lawful transfer basis and reasonable contractual, organisational and technical safeguards, with heightened controls for special information and children’s information.

8. Security measures

Lawryse applies reasonable safeguards appropriate to its operations and risk, including access control, authentication, encrypted transmission, logging, backups, confidentiality obligations, supplier controls, security monitoring, incident response and periodic review. Detailed security records may be refused where disclosure would create a security risk.

9. How to request a record

• Use the official PAIA Form 2: Request for Access to Record, available from the Information Regulator.
• Address the request to Alice Edmunds, Information Officer, at enquiries@lawryse.com or the physical address in this Manual.
• Identify the record clearly, the form of access required and sufficient contact details.
• Identify the right to be exercised or protected and explain why the requested record is required for that purpose.
• Provide proof of identity and, when acting for another person, proof of authority.
• Pay any prescribed request fee or access fee after receiving the required notice.

Official PAIA Form 2 and other forms: https://inforegulator.org.za/paia-forms/

10. Decision period, fees and assistance

Lawryse will decide a properly submitted request within the period prescribed by PAIA, ordinarily 30 days, unless a lawful extension applies. The Information Officer will provide reasonable assistance to a requester who needs help to comply with the procedure.

Prescribed request, search, preparation, reproduction, postage and access fees may apply. Lawryse will issue the prescribed fee notice before requiring payment. Access may be delayed until a lawfully required fee is paid.

11. Grounds for refusal

Access may be refused where PAIA requires or permits refusal, including protection of another person’s privacy, commercial information, confidential information, safety, law-enforcement interests, legally privileged material, research information, intellectual property, or Lawryse’s commercial and security interests. A record may also be severed so that a non-protected portion can be provided.

12. Outcome and remedies

Lawryse will communicate the outcome in the prescribed manner and provide reasons for a refusal. A requester may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator or approach a competent court within the periods and procedures prescribed by PAIA.

13. Availability of this Manual

This Manual is available free of charge on lawryse.com, from enquiries@lawryse.com and for inspection at Lawryse’s physical address during reasonable business hours by arrangement. A hard-copy reproduction fee may apply where permitted. The Manual may also be uploaded to the Information Regulator’s eServices portal.

14. Review of this Manual

Alice Edmunds, as Information Officer, is responsible for maintaining this Manual. It will be reviewed when Lawryse’s records, processing activities, contact details or legal obligations materially change.