• Information Officer: Sean Broomhead, io@hisp.org
• HISP-SA Head Office:
  • Postal Address: Postnet suite #47, Privat Bag X3, Beaconbay, 5205, East London
  • Street Address: 66 Rigel Avenue North, Waterkloof Ridge, 0181, Pretoria
  • Tel. No.: 012 340 0062
  • Email: io@hisp.org

1. The ACT grants a requester access to records of a private body, if –
   • the record is required for the exercise or protection of any rights;
   • the requesting person complies with the procedural requirements of PAIA; and
   • access is not refused in terms of a ground for refusal contained in PAIA.
2. If a public body lodges a request, the public body must be acting in the public interest.
3. Requests in terms of the ACT shall be made in accordance with the prescribed procedures, at the rates provided. The forms and tariff are dealt with in clauses 6 and 9 of this Manual.
4. Requesters are referred to the guide in terms of Section 10 which has been compiled by the South African Human Rights Commission (“SAHRC”), which will contain information for the purposes of exercising Constitutional Rights. The guide is available from the SAHRC.
5. The contact details of the SAHRC are:
   • Postal Address: Private Bag 2700, Houghton, 2041
   • Telephone Number: +27-11-877 3600
   • Fax Number: +27-11-403 0625
   • Website: www.sahrc.org.za

Company records classification key:

Summary: Records Availability

HISP does not own aggregated or personal information in the database which we host or manage on behalf of clients, thus we are unable to provide relevant information from these systems. Access to such information must be requested from the owner of the information on the prescribed forms, available on the website of the SAHRC at www.sahrc.org.za.

To request information from HISP regarding HISP or data hosted by HISP kindly:

1. Use the prescribed form which can be found on our website and submit the form via the website. A ticket number shall be sent back to you to which you can respond for any subsequent queries.
2. Direct the request to the Information Officer who shall consider the request and provide a decision within 30 (thirty) days of having received the request or having received the prescribed particulars in terms of section 53(2) of PAIA.
3. Provide
   • sufficient details to enable HISP to identify:
     1. The record(s) requested;
     2. The requester (and if an agent is lodging the request, proof of capacity); and
     3. The form of access required;
   • the contact details of the requesting party including e-mail address and postal address of the requester in the Republic of South Africa;
   • if the requester wishes to be informed of the decision in any manner (in addition to written) the manner and particulars thereof; and
   • the right which the requester is seeking to exercise or protect with an explanation of the reason the record is required to exercise or protect such right.

4. A request for information may be refused by HISP if it does not comply with PAIA or if HISP believes that there is a valid ground for objection in terms of PAIA.
5. Should a request for records be made on behalf of a third party, authority to do so must be provided to the Information Officer.

1. Should a request be granted, HISP shall provide the requesting person with the following information:
   • the access fee payable by the requesting person;
   • the type of access which will be granted; and
   • notice that the requesting person may approach a competent court to dispute the access fee or the type of access to be granted.
2. Once a request has been granted, the records shall be made available to the requesting person once the relevant fee has been paid.

1. A request for access to information may be refused in the following circumstances:
   • protecting personal information that HISP holds regarding a third party from unreasonable disclosure;
   • protecting commercial information that HISP holds regarding a third party which may harm the commercial or financial interests of such third party;
   • if the disclosure would result in a breach of a duty of confidence owed to a third party;
   • if the disclosure would jeopardise the safety or life of a natural person;
   • if disclosure would prejudice or impair the security of property or means of transport of a person;
   • if disclosure would prejudice or impair the protection of a person who is subject to a witness protection scheme;
   • if disclosure would prejudice or impair the protection of the safety of the public;
   • the record is privileged from production in legal proceedings unless privilege in relation to such record has been waived;
   • if the record is a computer programme;
   • disclosure of the record will put HISP at a disadvantage in contractual or other negotiations or prejudice HISP in commercial competition;
   • disclosure of the record would harm the commercial or financial interests of HISP; and
   • records containing information about research being carried out or about to be carried out on behalf of a third party or a company which is related to HISP, and which have not been made public by HISP.
2. Should a request be refused, HISP shall provide the requesting person with the following information –
   • adequate reasons for the refusal including the relevant sections of PAIA; and
   • notice that the requesting person may lodge an application with a competent court against the refusal and against the procedure including the period for lodging the application.

1. A non-refundable request fee is payable to HISP upon the submission of the request.
2. A requesting party who has made a request for access to records and such request has been granted must pay an access fee to HISP for the search and preparation of the records and any time reasonably required which exceeds the prescribed hours for searching and preparation arrangements.
3. The prescribed forms and fees are available on the website of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

1. Should records be requested that contain information pertaining to a third party, HISP is obliged to attempt to contact the third party to inform it of the request and to provide it with the opportunity to respond to the request by consenting or providing reasons why the access should be refused.
2. Should the third party provide reasons for the support of or against providing access, the Information Officer will consider such reasons in determining whether access should be granted.
3. The requesting party may appeal the decision of the Information Officer to a competent court in the Republic of South Africa in accordance with PAIA.

1. Should all reasonable steps be taken by HISP to find a requested record and there are reasonable grounds to believe that the record:
   • is in HISP’s possession but cannot be found; or
   • does not exist,

then the Information Officer shall notify the requesting party that it is not possible to provide the requesting party access to such record.

2. The communication contemplated in clause 11.1 shall set out the steps taken and correspondence exchanged relating thereto by HISP to find the requested record or to determine whether the record exists.
3. A notice in terms of clause 11.2 shall constitute a refusal by HISP.
4. Should the record be found after a notice in terms of clause 11.2 is sent to the requesting party, HISP shall provide the requesting party access to the record, unless refused in terms of a ground for refusal by the Information Officer.

This Manual is available for download by clicking on the following link

1. This Manual shall be reviewed annually by HISP.
2. Notwithstanding clause 13.1 above, HISP may amend this Manual as and when required.

1. In this Manual, unless the context requires otherwise:
   • words importing any one gender shall include the other two genders;
   • the singular shall include the plural and vice versa; and
   • a reference to natural persons shall include created entities (corporate or unincorporated) and vice versa.
2. In this Manual, the headings have been inserted for convenience only and shall not be used to assist or affect its interpretation.
3. Where a clause reference is referred to in this Manual and followed by the heading of the clause is referred, if there is any conflict between the two, the word reference to the heading shall prevail.
4. Words and/or expressions defined in any clause in the body of this Manual shall, unless the application of such words and/or expressions is specifically limited to that clause, bear the meaning is assigned to it throughout this Manual.
5. The eiusdem generis rule shall not apply and accordingly, whenever a provision is followed by the word “including” followed by specific examples, such examples shall not be construed to limit the ambit of the provision concerned.