Information Regulator Notice on PAIA Form 2 Compliance

Posted 05 September 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Justice

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: In terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, No. 2 of 2000, the Information Regulator has issued a directive requiring all organisations to transition from the outdated Form A to the prescribed Form 2 for access to information requests.

The Information Regulator of South Africa issued a notice on 31 August 2025 to Information Officers, Heads of Private Bodies, and Deputy Information Officers regarding widespread non-compliance with PAIA forms. The notice, which reached approximately 105,000 registered organisations, highlights that the continued use of incorrect or obsolete forms — specifically the legacy Form A — impedes the ability of requesters to exercise their constitutional right to access information.

To maintain regulatory compliance, organisations must ensure that their internal processes and public-facing documentation align with the current regulations. The Regulator has directed that:

  • The outdated Form A must be immediately removed from all internal systems and public websites.
  • The organisation’s PAIA manual must be updated to refer specifically to Form 2 (Request for Access to Record).
  • Information Officers must ensure that any member of the public requesting records is provided with or directed to the correct Form 2 template.

The Regulator noted that this communication serves as a formal notification to rectify administrative deficiencies that have persisted despite previous guidance. Form 2 is the only valid instrument for a member of the public to formally request access to records from a private or public body under the Act.

Click here to download the Information Regulator Notice: Non-Compliance with PAIA Forms.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: You must ensure that any PAIA request you facilitate or advise upon utilizes the prescribed Form 2 to prevent the request from being procedurally defective.
  • For your business: Your firm must perform an immediate audit of its PAIA manual and digital repositories to replace Form A with Form 2, ensuring the firm is not flagged for non-compliance during a regulatory audit.
  • For your clients: Advise clients that the Information Regulator is actively monitoring the use of prescribed forms; they must update their compliance manuals and staff training to ensure only Form 2 is accepted and processed.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/inforeg-non-compliance-with-paia-forms

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