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PAIA / Sections / Section 72
Section 72

Representations and consent by third parties

Part 3 · Access to Records of Private Bodies · Chapter 5 — Third Party Notification and Intervention

(1) A third party that is informed in terms of section 71(1) of a request for access, may, within 21 days after being so informed— (a) make written or oral representations to the head 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 71(1) may— (a) make written or oral representations to the head concerned why the request should be refused; or (b) give written consent for the disclosure of the record to the requester concerned.

representationsconsentthird party21 daysintervention
Beyond the text

What this means in practice

  • A notified third party has 21 days to make representations on why access should be refused, or to consent to disclosure.
  • A third party who learns of the request another way can also make representations or consent.
Relevant tool

PopiGuard captures third-party representations and consents against each request — so the s.73 decision has a complete record.

See PopiGuard →