South Africa
South Africa has a wide ranging Promotion of Access to Information Act which came into force in March 2001, which applies to private as well as public bodies.
The South African Human Rights Commission has responsibilities under the Act including:
- produce a guide to the Act to assist the public to utilise their rights
- develop an educational programme aim at the public and in particular to disadvantaged communities
- assist any person seeking to use their rights
- train the information officers of public bodies.
The Commission has observed deficiencies in the implementation of the legislation. Public and private authorities are required to produce 'manuals' detailing the information that they hold and how it can be accessed; however many authorities have not complied and the Government extensions of 1 year have been given to them to submit manuals.
Public authorities are also required to make an annual report of how many FOI requests they have received and how they have been dealt with. Around 400 reports have been made 'mostly of a poor quality.'