Preservation of records until final decision on request

If the information officer of a public body has received a request for access to a record of the body, that information officer must take the steps that are reasonably necessary to preserve the record, without deleting any information contained in it, until the information officer has notified the requester concerned of his or her decision in terms of section 25 and— (a) the periods for lodging an internal appeal, a complaint to the Information Regulator, an application with a court or an appeal against a decision of that court have expired; or (b) that internal appeal, complaint to the Information Regulator, application or appeal against a decision of that court or other legal proceedings in connection with the request has been finally determined, whichever is the later.