Legislation - South Africa
Section 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that everyone has the right of access to 'any information held by the state' and 'any information held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights'.
Download a copy of the South African Constitution
In 2000 the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2. of 2000 was enacted to give effect to these rights. The two main objectives of PAIA are:
1. To give South Africans and non-South Africans a legal right to access information held by public and private bodies, enabling them to more fully exercise and protect their rights.
2. To foster a culture of openness and accountability in South Africa.
Download a copy of the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2. of 2000 (PAIA).
View PAIA Regulations
Any amendments to the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2. of 2000 (PAIA) (including exemptions, fees and changes to timeframes) may be granted by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development. These amendments will be detailed in Government Notices, published in the Government Gazette.
Legislation related to PAIA
The National Archives Act
Promotion of Administrative Justice Act
Protection of State Information Bill
Protection of Personal Information Bill
AFRICA
Draft Model Law for AU Member States on Access to Information in Africa
Download the Draft Model Law (English)
Download the Draft Model Law (French)
Download the Draft Model Law (Portuguese)
Ethiopia - Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation No 590/2008
Guinea - Organic Law on the Right of Access to Public Information, 2010
Niger - Law on Access to Public Information and Administrative Documents, 2011 (in French)
Nigeria - Freedom of Information Law, 2011
Uganda - Access to Information Act, 2005
INTERNATIONAL
Roger Vleugals Fringe Special - Round up of the state of FOI legislation around the world (20 September 2010)
Right2INFO.org brings together information on the legal frameworks for the right to information as well case law from dozens of countries, organized and analyzed by topic.
Toby Mendel - Freedom of Information - A legal comparative survey (2003)