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PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT

No. 2 of 2000
(hereinafter referred to as the “Act”)

1.    Introduction

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The Promotion of Access to Information Act gives effect to the constitutional right of access to any information held by the state and any information that is held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.

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Specifically, section 51(1) of the Act provides that within six months after the commencement of this section (now the 31st August 2005) or within six months after coming into existence of the private body concerned, the head of a private body must compile a manual that must contain information regarding the subjects and categories of records held by such private bodies.

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In this context, a "private body" is defined as any natural person who carries or has carried on any trade, business or profession, but only in such capacity or any partnership which carries or has carried on any trade, business or profession or any former or existing juristic person (e.g. any company, close corporation or business trust).

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Applxbridge (Pty) Ltd falls within the definition of a "private body" and this Manual has been compiled in accordance with the said provisions and to fulfil the requirements of the Act.

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In terms of the Act, where a request for information is made to a body, there is an obligation to provide the information, except where the Act expressly provides that the information may not be released. In this context, Section 9 of the Act recognises that access to information can be limited. The limitation relates to circumstances where such release would pose a threat to the protection of privacy, commercial confidentiality, and the exercising of efficient governance.

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Accordingly, this manual provides a reference to the records held by Applxbridge (Pty) Ltd and the process that needs to be adopted to access such records.

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All requests for access to information (other than information that is available to the public) must be addressed to the Head of the Business named in section 2.

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2.    Business and Contact Details

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Name of Business: Applxbridge (Pty) Ltd
Head of Business: Mr Andrew Smith
Position: Director
Postal Address: P.O. Box 655, Plumstead, 7801, South Africa
Phone Number: +27 82 886 6465
Email Address: andrew.s AT applxbridge DOT com
Website: www.applxbridge.com


3.    Manual and Guidelines

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Section 10 of the Act provides that the South African Human Rights Commission must compile simple and easily comprehensible guidelines on how to use the Promotion of Access to Information Act. This Guide can be found at the following URL: http://www.sahrc.org.za/

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Any enquires relating to this guide should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Human Rights Commission, 2nd Floor, Braampark Forum 3, 33 Hoofd Street, Braamfontein. Telephone 011 877 3750 or Fax 011 403 0668.

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Copies of the Guide are also available at the following places:

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  • The office of the Government Communications and Information Services;

  • Library of Parliament, Cape Town;

  • The South African Library, Cape Town;

  • Natal Society Library, Pietermaritzburg;

  • The State Library in Pretoria;

  • City Library Services, Bloemfontein;

  • The National Film, Video and Sound Archives, Pretoria;

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Copies of the Guide are also available in all official languages at the following offices:

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  • All offices of public bodies;

  • All Magistrates’ Offices;

  • All offices of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development;

  • All Post Offices;

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The Guide is also available at all offices and on the website of the South African Human Rights Commission, www.sahrc.org.za.

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4.    Records available in terms of Section 52(2) of the Act

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Not applicable.

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5.    Records that are held at the offices of the business

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The following is a list of records that are held at the business’s office: 

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Administration

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  • Founding Documents

  • Shareholder Register

  • Statutory Returns

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Human Resources

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  • Employee Records

  • Employment Contracts

  • Personnel Guidelines, Policies, and Procedures

  • Remuneration Records

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Operations

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  • Brochures on Company Information

  • Customer Registry

  • Sales Records

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Finances

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  • Annual Financial Statements

  • Asset Register

  • Banking Records

  • Financial Transactions

  • Management Accounts

  • Purchase and Order Information

  • Tax Records (company and employee)

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Information Technology

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  • IT Policies and Procedures

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Statutory Records

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  • Arbitration Act 42 of 1965

  • Basic Conditions of Employment 75 of 1997

  • Companies Act 71 of 2008

  • Copyright Act 98 of 1978

  • Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002

  • Income Tax Act 95 of 1967

  • Skills Development Levies Act 9 of 1999

  • Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000

  • Skills Development Act 97 of 1998

  • Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993

  • Unemployment Contributions Act 4 of 2002

  • Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001

  • Value Added Tax Act 89 of 1991

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6.    Introduction

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  • The requester must use a prescribed form to make the request for access to a record. The request form is available from us via electronic mail.

  • Application for the request form, and submission thereof, must be made in electronic mail to the Head of Business named in Section 2 above. 

  • The requester must provide sufficient detail on the request form to enable the Head of Business to identify the record and the requester. The requester should also indicate which form of access is required. The requester should also indicate if any other manner should be used to inform the requester. If this is the case, please furnish the necessary particulars to be so informed.

  • The requester must identify the right that is sought to be exercised or to be protected and must provide an explanation of why the requested record is required for the exercise or protection of that right.

  • If a request is made on behalf of another person, the requester must submit proof of the capacity in which the requester is making the request to the satisfaction of Head of Business aforesaid.

  • The prescribed request fee must be attached.

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We will respond to your request within 30 days of receiving the request by indicating whether your request for access has been granted or denied.

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Please note that the successful completion and submission of a request for access form does not automatically allow the requestor access to the requested record.

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Access will be granted to a record only if the following criteria are fulfilled: 

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  • The record is required for the exercise or protection of any right;

  • and The requestor complies with the procedural requirements set out in the Act relating to a request; and

  • Access to the record is not refused in terms of any ground for refusal as contemplated in Chapter 4 of Part 3 of the Act.

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7.    Denial of access

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  • Access to any record may be refused under certain limited circumstances. These include:

    • The protection of personal information from unreasonable disclosure concerning any natural person;

    • The protection of commercial information held concerning any third party (for example trade secrets);

    • The protection of financial, commercial, scientific or technical information that may harm the commercial or financial interests of any third party;

    • Disclosures that would result in a breach of a duty of confidence owed to a third party;

    • Disclosures that would jeopardize the safety or life of an individual;

    • Disclosures that would prejudice or impair the security of property or means of transport;

    • Disclosures that would prejudice or impair the protection of a person in accordance with a witness protection scheme;

    • Disclosures that would prejudice or impair the protection of the safety of the public;

    • Disclosures that are privileged from production in legal proceedings unless the privilege has been waived;

    • Disclosures of details of any computer programme;

    • Disclosures that will put Applxbridge (Pty) Ltd at a disadvantage in contractual or other negotiations or prejudice it in commercial competition;

    • Disclosures of any record containing any trade secrets, financial, commercial, scientific, or technical information that would harm the commercial or financial interests of Applxbridge (Pty) Ltd

    • Disclosures of any record containing information about research and development being carried out or about to be carried out by

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If access to a record or any other relevant information is denied, our response will include:

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  • Adequate reasons for the refusal; and

  • Notice that you may lodge an application with the court against the refusal and the procedure including details of the period for lodging the application.

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8.    Fees

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The applicable fees are prescribed in terms of the Regulations promulgated under the Act.

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There are two basic types of fees payable in terms of the Act.

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Request Fee

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The non-refundable request fee of R 50 (excluding VAT) is payable on submission of any request for access to any record. This does not apply if the request is for personal records of the requestor. No fee is payable in such circumstances.

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Access Fee

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The access fee is payable prior to being permitted access to the records in the required form. The applicable fees are prescribed in terms of Part III of Annexure A as identified in Government Notice Number 187, Regulation 11.
 

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