Information Regulator: Submission of PAIA annual reports for 2024/2025

Information Regulator: Submission of PAIA annual reports for 2024/2025

• 26 March 2025
• Regulatory Compliance and Legislation
• South African Accounting Academy

Summary:

The Information Regulator of SA has invited Public and Private bodies to submit their PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information Act) annual reports for the 2024/ 2025 financial year in respect of access to information requests received and processed. The submission period will open on 1 April 2025 and close on 30 June 2025.

Article:

In terms of section 32 of PAIA, the Information Officer (IO) of every public body must annually submit to the Regulator a report in respect of access to information requests received and processed by the public body. Furthermore, and in accordance with section 83(4) of PAIA, the Heads of Private Bodies (HPBs) or Deputy Information Officers (DIOs) are hereby requested to submit to the Regulator, their Annual Reports about requests for access to records received and processed by the private body.

As part of their efforts to facilitate seamless compliance with PAIA, the Regulator has developed an online submission platform for Annual Reports in terms of sections 32 and 83(4) of PAIA. This functionality is available under the eServices portal, which can be accessed via the Regulator’s website at https://inforegulator.org.za, or by going directly to the Regulator eServices portal, accessible on https://eservices.inforegulator.org.za

Please note that the body will not be able to submit the Annual Report unless the IO, HPB and DIOs are registered with the Regulator.

To assist bodies, step-by-step guides on how to register and to submit the Annual Reports are available on the eServices portal and Regulator’s website.

If you are unable to login into the portal or require assistance, please contact the technical support team at Paiasupport@inforegulator.org.za or (010) 023 5200. Organisations are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the portal in advance and complete submissions early to avoid lastminute technical issues.

Access the media alert issued at https://inforegulator.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MEDIA-ALERT-SECTION-32-AND-83-4-PAIA-REPORTS.pdf

Click here to download the Notice:

https://inforegulator.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NOTICE-FOR-PAIA-ANNUAL-REPORT-2025.pdf

Relevance to Auditors, Independent Reviewers & Accountants:

• PAIA is another piece of legislation that your clients must comply with, and which you must assess compliance with.  If they don’t comply with the relevant laws and regulations, you have certain reporting obligations in terms of NOCLAR (NOn-Compliance with Laws And Regulations) – this could include reporting to management, qualifying your audit opinion, reporting a Reportable Irregularity, etc.
• As an auditor, accountant and independent reviewer, you need to consider updated information that is published by the Information Regulator (as they are responsible for PAIA in SA) – especially as it relates to operational functionalities, such as the submission of annual PAIA reports.
• As an employer, you also need to comply with PAIA in your workplace.

Relevance to Your Clients:

• Both private and public bodies have a duty to comply with PAIA, and directors have to fulfil their duties accordingly, otherwise they could be held liable.
• Your clients need to consider updated information that is published by the Information Regulator (as they are responsible for POPIA and PAIA in SA) – especially as it relates to operational functionalities, such as the submission of annual PAIA reports.

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