Segment 2: Making Power Accountable
This segment uses the efforts of the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) in getting access to the Rapid Assessment Survey that was done on behalf of the Eastern Cape Government to show the type of information that can be accessed under the Act and how it can be used to hold government accountable. PSAM is a non-profit organisation focussed on service delivery issues in the health, housing and education sector. In 2005 PSAM learned that the Eastern Cape Government had commissioned a survey to assess the challenges and successes of that province in its delivery in the socio-economic sector. PSAM requested a copy of the survey from the Eastern Cape Government under PAIA. At first the request was denied but PSAM lodged an internal appeal and then went to court to get access to the survey. The survey is now used by PSAM in its everyday work to identify parts of government activity that require civil society intervention.
To see how you can utilise this segment in your training, download the PAIA DVD Guide.