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PAIA / Sections / Section 48
Section 48

Representations and consent by third parties

Part 2 · Access to Records of Public Bodies · Chapter 5 — Third Party Notification and Intervention

(1) A third party that is informed in terms of section 47(1) of a request for access, may, within 21 days after the third party has been informed— (a) make written or oral representations to the information officer concerned why the request should be refused; or (b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester concerned.

(2) A third party that obtains knowledge about a request for access other than in terms of section 47(1) may— (a) make written or oral representations to the information officer concerned why the request should be refused; or (b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester concerned.

Source: SAFLII — Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (consolidated, updated 11 October 2024) — cross-checked verbatim before publishing.
representationsconsentthird partypublic body
Beyond the text

What this means in practice

  • A notified third party has 21 days to argue against disclosure or consent to it; a third party who hears of the request another way can do the same.
Relevant tool

PopiGuard captures third-party representations and consents against each request for the s.49 decision.

See PopiGuard →
← s.47 — Notice to third partiess.49 — Decision on representations for refusal and notice thereof →