Accessing Information for Your Community: A Guide to Using the Promotion of Access to Information Act to Empower South African Communities to Promote and Protect Human Rights

This guide, developed by the South African History Archive's (SAHA) Freedom of Information Programme, outlines the important role that access to information can play in the achievement of advocacy goals and the protection of rights in South African communities. It examines the legal right to information in South Africa and, using key issues that face many South African communities - access to housing, water, education, and employment - illustrates the ways in which access to information can help communities to realise other rights. The guide is also a tool that empowers communities to hold government accountable, and ensure transparency.

The guide includes of the following chapters:

• What does the right to information mean?
• Why is having access to information important?
• Your legal right to information
• Examining the right to information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)
• How can access to information assist your community?
• Case study: Rysmierbult community members demand their land
• Exercising the right to information
• Organisations that can help you make requests for information