1. This PAIA Manual has been prepared and published to ensure that Priority Performance Projects (PPP), together with its subsidiaries, brands and affiliates including BuildRSA, BOP, BLAK Magazine, African Genius Awards (AGA), OWL and the OWL Mobile Application, complies with its obligations under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (“PAIA”) and the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPIA”). The purpose of this Manual is to provide guidance to any person wishing to request access to records held by PPP, and to set out the process that must be followed when submitting such requests.
2. PAIA was enacted to give effect to the constitutional right of access to information held by private and public bodies where such information is required for the exercise or protection of rights. The Act requires private bodies such as PPP to compile a manual to assist individuals in understanding what records are held and how requests for access may be made.
3. PPP is a company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa with its principal place of business situated at 2 Albury Road, Dunkeld West, Gauteng. PPP operates various online platforms and publications with the central mission of fostering unity, innovation and collaboration through digital engagement, as more fully described in the Terms and Conditions of Use that apply to its websites and applications.
4. Requests for access to information must be made in terms of the procedures prescribed under PAIA. The request must be made on the prescribed form (Form C) which is available on the website of the Information Regulator of South Africa at www.inforegulator.org.za/paia-forms/. The completed form must be submitted together with the prescribed fee, if applicable, to the Information Officer of PPP whose details are set out below.
5.The Information Officer may from time to time delegate this responsibility to a Deputy Information Officer. The Information Officer may be contacted in writing at info@priorityperformance.co.za.
6. Categories of records held by PPP include internal corporate governance records such as constitutional documents, board minutes and resolutions; human resources records relating to employees, contractors and applicants; operational records relating to projects, platforms, content and publications; intellectual property records including trademarks, copyright and licensing agreements; contractual records with suppliers, partners and service providers; and financial records including audited statements, invoices and taxation filings.
7. In addition to the categories of records described above, PPP also processes personal information as defined under POPIA. Such personal information includes data relating to users of its platforms, including registration information, communications, usage history and preferences; data relating to clients, suppliers and partners; and employee information. The processing of such personal information is undertaken strictly in accordance with the principles of POPIA, including lawfulness, minimality, purpose specification, security safeguards and data subject participation.
8. Records that are automatically available without the need for a formal request under PAIA include information published on PPP’s websites and applications, such as press releases, public reports, marketing material, published articles, and the Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
9. To request access to a record that is not automatically available, an individual must complete the prescribed PAIA request form, identify the record requested with sufficient detail, provide proof of identity, state the right that is being exercised or protected, and explain why the requested record is required to exercise or protect that right. A request may be refused where one of the grounds for refusal set out in PAIA applies, including but not limited to the unreasonable disclosure of personal information of third parties, commercial information of PPP or another party, or information privileged from disclosure.
11. In accordance with section 32 of POPIA, PPP takes appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational measures to secure the integrity and confidentiality of personal information in its possession or under its control, and to prevent loss, damage, unauthorised destruction and unlawful access to or processing of such information.
12. This PAIA Manual will be updated from time to time to reflect any changes in the operations of PPP, developments in applicable legislation, or directions issued by the Information Regulator. The latest version will be made publicly available on PPP’s website at www.priorityperfromance.co.za.
13. Any person who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a request submitted to PPP in terms of this Manual may apply to a court for appropriate relief, or may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator. The Information Regulator may be contacted at complaints.IR@justice.gov.za.