SOUTH AFRICAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION
(Registered as an Incorporated Association not for
gain under Section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973)
A Guide to
ACCESSING OUR
INFORMATION
Our Manual in terms of Section 51 of the
Promotion of Access to Information Act
1. Purpose of the Manual in terms of PAIA
The purpose of this Manual is to assist people wishing to access information in terms of the PAIA from South African Veterinary Association
2. Request for access to information
In the event that a person or entity requires access to information as contemplated in the Act, the requester must contact Prof B L Penzhorn. In terms of section 25(2) states that:
(2) If the request for access is granted, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must state—
(a) the access fee (if any) to be paid upon access;
(b) the form in which access will be given; and
(c) that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court, as the case may be, against the access fee to be paid or the form of access 15 granted, and the procedure (including the period) for lodging the internal appeal or application, as the case may be.
(3) If the request for access is refused, the notice in terms of subsection (1)(b) must—
(a) state adequate reasons for the refusal, including the provisions of this Act relied upon;
(b) exclude, from such reasons, any reference to the content of the record; and
(c) state that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court, as the case may be, against the refusal of the request, and the procedure (including the period) for lodging the internal appeal or application, as the case may be.
3. Terms used in this document
- Terms defined in the act shall have the meaning set out therein;
- Reference to sections shall be a reference to sections in the Act
4. Preamble
The Promotion of Access to Information Act No 2 of 2000, (“the Act”) came into operation on 23 November 2001. Section 51 of this Act requires that we as a private body compile a manual giving information to the public regarding the procedure to be followed in requesting information from us for the purpose of exercising or protecting rights.
5. Brief Company Overview
The South African Veterinary Association was founded in 1920 and is registered as a section 21 company.
The principal activity consists of promoting the interest and status of the veterinary profession.
We as a private body have compiled this manual, not only to comply with the provisions of the Act, but also to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in our environment and to ensure that members of the public have effective access to information in our possession which will assist them in exercise and protection of their rights.
Inside these pages you will be able to view the categories of information which we possess.
6. SECTION A: Particulars of the Private Body
(Information required under section 51(1) (a) of the Act)
Full name- South African Veterinary Association
(Registration No 1901/02020/20)
Postal address- P O Box 25033
Monument Park 0152
Physical address - 47 Gemsbok Avenue
Monument Park
Pretoria
0152
Telephone - (012) 346-1150
Telefax - (012) 346-2929
Website - www.sava.co.za
CONTACT DETAILS OF THE HEAD OF THE COMPANY AND REQUEST LIAISON OFFICER
The head of the company is Prof B L Penzhorn.
Contact details of the head of the company -
Telephone - (012) 346-1150
Telefax: - (012) 346-2929
E-mail - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The request liaison officer is Ms Elize Nicholas
Contact details of the request liaison officer -
Telephone - (012) 346-1150
Telefax - (012) 346-2929
E-mail - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
7. SECTION B: Description and Access to the Guide
(Information required under section 51(1)(b) of the Act)
Section 10 of the Act requires the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to publish a Guide containing information reasonably required by a person wishing to exercise or protect any right in terms of this Act.
The Guide will contain the following information:
- he objects of the Act;
- Particulars of the information officer of every public body;
- Particulars of every private body as are practicable;
- The manner and form of a request for access to information held by a body;
- Assistance available from both the information officers and the Human Rights Commission in terms of the Act;
- All remedies in law regarding acts, omissions, rights and duties, including how to lodge an internal appeal and a court application;
- Schedules of fees to be paid in relation to requests for access to information;
- Regulations made in terms of the Act.
8. SECTION C: Information available in terms of the Act
In terms of Section 52, a private body may, on a voluntary and periodic basis, submit to the Minister a description of categories of records which are automatically available without a person having to request access in terms of this Act. This includes records which are available:
- for inspection for purchase or copying from the private body; and from the private body free of charge)
9. Methods of Access to Manual
* Human Rights Commission – a copy will be made available
* SAVA Webpage – www.sava.co.za
* At the offices of the South African Veterinary Association
RECORDS THAT ARE AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE TO EITHER EMPLOYEES ONLY OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEES
(Information required under section 51(1)(c) of the Act)
The following records are automatically available to all employees and need not be requested in accordance with the procedure outlined in paragraph 0 -
- personnel records are available to the employee whose file it is;
- records of disciplinary hearings and related matters are available to the employee concerned;
- the company's policies and procedures manual;
- the company's document format manual;
The following records are automatically available to the general public and all employees and need not be requested in accordance with the procedure outlined in paragraph 0 –
the company's employment equity plan;
10. SECTION D: Records held by the Company in terms of other legislation
(Information required under section 51(1)(d) of the Act)
The following records are not automatically available without a request in terms of the Act-
all statutory returns -
Value Added Tax Act No. 89 of 1991;
Unemployment Insurance Act No. 63 of 2001;
Unemployment Contributions Act No. 4 of 2002;
Skills development Act 97 of 1998;
Skills development Levies Act No. 9 of 1999;
Income Tax Act No. 95 of 1967;
Companies Act No. 71 of 2008;
Basic Condition of Employment No. 73 of 1997
Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases – Act 130 of 1993
Non-profit Organisations Act 71 of 1997
Veterinary and Para- Veterinary Professions Act no. 19 of 1982
Documents concerning compliance by the company, insofar as it may be necessary.
11. Section 51(1) (e)
This section of the manual must set out a description of the subjects on which your organisation holds record, and categories of records held on each subject. These include operational records of your organisation utilised in the day to day running and administration of its administration, such as:
- Accounting records
- Information Technology
- Intellectual Property
- Personnel Records
- Sales and Marketing
- Statutory Company records
- Client Databases
- Internal Phone lists
- Policies
- Directives
- Minutes of Meetings
- Administrative information
12. Requesting Procedure
A person who wants access to the records must complete the necessary request form, as set out in Annexure 1, and the completed form must be sent to the address or fax number provided in this manual, and marked for the attention of the information officer.
The requester must indicate which form of access is required, and identify the right that is sought to be exercised or protected, and provide an explanation of which the requested record is required for the exercise or protection of that right. Proof of the capacity in which the requester is requesting the information
12.2 Availability of the Manual
12.2.1 This manual is available for inspection by the general public upon request during office hours and there is no charge for viewing the manual at our offices (where is it available). Copies of the manual may be made available subject to the prescribed fees.
12.2.2 Copies may also be requested from the South African Human Rights Commission at the address indicated below.
12.3 Fees
A requester who seeks access to a record containing personal information about that requester is not required to pay the request fees. Any other requester who is not a personal requester must pay the required fee:
12.3.1 A fee will be required by the head (contact person) before further processing of the request in terms of S54 of the Act
12.3.2 A requester fee of R50 should be paid; this amount will be refunded should the request for access be refused
12.3.3 A portion of the access fee (not more than one third) may be required before the request is considered
12.3.4 The requester may lodge an application with a court against the payment of the request fee in terms of S54(3)(b) of the Act
12.3.5 The head may withhold a record until the requester has paid the applicable fees.
Copies of this Guide will be available as soon as it is published by the SAHRC. Enquiries regarding the guide can be addressed to the SAHRC, the contact details of which are as follows:
Post: South African Human Rights Commission
Promotion of Access to Information Act Unit
Research and Documentation Department
Private Bag 2700, Houghton, 2041
Telephone: (011) 484‑8300
Telefax: (011) 484‑0582
Website: www.sahrc.org.za
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
