Voluntary disclosure and automatic availability of certain records
(1) The information officer of a public body, referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of the “public body” in section 1, must make available in the prescribed manner a description of— (a) the categories of records of the public body that are automatically available without a person having to request access in terms of this Act, including such categories available— (i) for inspection in terms of legislation other than this Act; (ii) for purchase or copying from the body; and (iii) from the body free of charge; and (b) how to obtain access to such records.
(2) ...
(3) The only fee payable (if any) for access to a record referred to in subsection (1) is a prescribed fee for reproduction.
(4) The information officer of a public body may delete any part of a record contemplated in subsection (1)(a) which, on a request for access, may or must be refused in terms of Chapter 4 of this Part.
(5) Section 11 and any other provisions in this Act related to that section do not apply to any category of records included in a notice in terms of subsection (2).
What this means in practice
- Public bodies must publish the categories of records that are automatically available without a formal request — the proactive-disclosure side of PAIA.
- For such records the only fee is a prescribed reproduction fee, and refusable parts may be deleted first.
PopiGuard helps public bodies decide what to publish proactively — reducing request volume while protecting refusable material.