paia and paja
DESCRIPTION
DWA is successfully implementing both Acts PAIA manual was drafted in consultation with Department of Justice and is ready for publication in April 2013 DG is Information Officer of DWA CD Legal Services is Deputy Information Officer of DWA - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
PAIA and PAJA • DWA is successfully implementing both Acts• PAIA manual was drafted in consultation with Department
of Justice and is ready for publication in April 2013• DG is Information Officer of DWA• CD Legal Services is Deputy Information Officer of DWA• Assistant Information Officers are in each of 9 Regions • CD Legal Services is conducting training to all officials
TYPES OF INFORMATION/REASONS REQUESTED
Water Use Licenses Policies Budgets Copies of pending applications for water use licenses etc
OBLIGATIONS OF THE INFORMATION OFFICER
Compilation of Section 14 Manual and submission Submission of reports to SAHRC (S32 reports) OFFENCES A person who with the intent to deny a right of access in
terms of the Act- Destroys, damages, or alters a record Conceals a record; or Falsifies a record or makes a false record, commits an offence
and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.
CHALLENGES: PAIA Delay in forwarding initial PAIA request to the relevant
official e.g. Information Officer or Deputy Information Officer
More often than not, information is delayed because DWA officials are busy with operations
The time frames imposed by PAIA is already proving burdensome as it takes a considerable time to locate and compile record
Decision to grant /refuse access to information subject to legal challenges
COMMON INTERVENTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
Implementation of PAIA manual Implementation of PAJA Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) Legal Training being conducted at Head Office and
Regions with assistance from DOJ Awareness building campaigns by Legal Services Access for Information /Judicial review cases are
being minimized as part of overall litigation management strategy.
CHALLENGES:PAJA Delay in forwarding initial PAJA request for reasons Delay because DWA officials are busy with
operations The time frames imposed by PAJA is already
proving burdensome as it takes a considerable time to receive instructions and therefore compile reasons as required by section 5 of PAJA
Judicial review cases are minimized