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MANUAL FOR DIRK UYS PROKUREURS | ATTORNEYS
Last updated Feb 2018
Prepared in terms of the requirements of the PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT No. 2 of 2000 (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”)
1. Introduction
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.
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.
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).
Dirk Uys Prokureurs | Attorneys 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.
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.
Accordingly, this manual provides a reference to the records held by Dirk Uys Prokureurs | Attorneys and the process that needs to be adopted to access such records.
All requests for access to information (other than information that is available to the public) must be addressed to the Information Officer named in section 2 of this Manual.
2. Business and Contact Details
Name of Business: Dirk Uys Prokureurs | Attorneys
Head of Business: Mr Dirk Cornelius Uys
Position: Partner
Postal Address: PO Box 321, Bredasdorp, 7280
Street address: 25 Long Street, Bredasdorp, 7280
Phone Number: 028 425 1066
Fax Number: 086 461 0191
Email Address: dirk@uyslaw.com
Website if applicable: https://uyslaw.com/
3. Manual and Guidelines
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/sahrc_cms/publish/cat_index_40.shtml#11
Any enquires relating to this guide should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Human Rights Commission, Private Bag 2700, Houghton, 2041. Telephone (011) 484 8300 or Fax (011) 484 1360.
Copies of the Guide are also available at the following places:
• 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;
• Every Tertiary Education Institution established by or under any law.
Copies of the Guide are also available in all official languages at the following offices:
• All offices of public bodies;
• All Magistrates’ Offices;
• All offices of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development;
• All Post Offices;
The Guide is also available at all offices and on the website of the South African Human Rights Commission, (www.sahrc.org.za).
4. Records available in terms of Section 52(2) of the Act
Not applicable.
5. Records that are held at the offices of the business
The following is a list of records that are held at the business’s office:
Administration:
• Attendance registers
• Correspondence
• Founding Documents
• Licences (categories)
• Minutes of Management Meetings
• Minutes of Staff Meetings
• Statutory Returns
Human Resources:
• Conditions of Service
• Employee Records
• Employment Contracts
• Employment Equity Records
• General Correspondence
• Industrial and Labour Relations Records.
• Information relating to Health and Safety Regulations
• Pension and Provident Fund Records
• Performance Appraisals
• Personnel Guidelines, Policies and Procedures
• Remuneration Records and Policies
• Salary Surveys
• Skills Requirements
• Staff Recruitment Policies
• Statutory Records
• Training Records
Operations:
• Brochures on Company Information
• Client and Customer Registry
• Contracts
• General Correspondence
• Information relating to Employee Sales Performance
• Information relating to Work-In-Progress
• Marketing and Future Strategies
• Marketing Records
• Production Records
• Sales Records
• Suppliers’ Registry
Finances:
• Annual Financial Statements
• Asset Register
• Banking Records
• Budgets
• Contracts
• Financial Transactions
• General Correspondence
• Insurance Information
• Internal Audit Records
• Management Accounts
• Purchase and Order Information
• Stock Records
• Tax Records (company and employee)
Information Technology:
• IT Policies and Procedures
• Network Diagrams
• User Manuals
Statutory Records. At present these include records (if any) held in terms of:
• Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965
• Arbitration Act 42 of 1965
• Basic Conditions of Employment 75 of 1997
• Companies Act 61 of 1973
• Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Health Diseases Act 130 of 1993
• Consumer Affairs (Unfair Business Practices) Act 71 of 1988
• Copyright Act 98 of 1978
• Credit Agreements Act 75 of 1980
• Currency and Exchanges Act 9 of 1933
• Debtor Collectors Act 114 of 1998
• Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998
• Finance Act 35 of 2000
• Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002
• Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001
• Financial Services Board Act 97 of 1990
• Financial Relations Act 65 of 1976
• Harmful Business Practices Act 23 of 1999
• Income Tax Act 95 of 1967
• Intellectual Property Laws Amendments Act 38 of 1997
• Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995
• Long Term Insurance Act 52 of 1998
• Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998
• Occupational Health & Safety Act 85 of 1993
• Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956
• Post Office Act 44 of 1958
• Protection of Businesses Act 99 of 1978
• Regional Services Councils Act 109 of 1985
• SA Reserve Bank Act 90 of 1989
• Short Term Insurance Act 53 of 1998
• Skills Development Levies Act 9 of 1999
• Skills Development Act 97 of 1998
• Stamp Duties Act 77 of 1968
• Stock Exchange Control Act 1 of 1985
• Tax on Retirement Funds Act 38 of 1996
• Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993
• Unemployment Contributions Act 4 of 2002
• Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001
• Usury Act No 73 of 1968
• Value Added Tax Act 89 of 1991
6. Information Request Procedure
• All requests for access to any record must be done formally either via conventional mail, by e-mail or by fax.
• This request must be in the prescribed format as defined in Form C of Annexure B as identified in Government
• Notice Number 187, Regulation 6. A request form is available from our offices or at www.accesstoinfo.co.za.
• The request form must be completed as follows:
Type or print in BLOCK LETTERS and answer every question.
If an answer does not apply, state “N/A” in response to that question.
If there is nothing to disclose in reply to a particular question, state “nil” in response to that question
If there is insufficient space on a printed form in which to answer a question, additional information may be provided on a separate page that is clearly marked and referenced.
The prescribed request fee must be attached.
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.
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.
Access will be granted to a record if the following criteria are fulfilled:
• 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.
7. Denial of access
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 Dirk Uys Prokureurs | Attorneys 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 Dirk Uys Prokureurs | Attorneys
• Disclosures of any record containing information about research and development being carried out or about to be carried out by Dirk Uys Prokureurs | Attorneys
If access to a record or any other relevant information is denied, our response will include:
• 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
8. Fees
The applicable fees are prescribed in terms of the Regulations promulgated under the Act.
There are two basic types of fees payable in terms of the Act.
Request Fee
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.
Access Fee
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.
9. Manual Availability
This Manual is available at the offices of the South African Human Rights Commission. The Manual is also available at www.accesstoinfo.co.za. Copies may also be obtained from the Head of Business of Dirk Uys Prokureurs | Attorneys.
If hard copies are required, any transmission costs or postage will be for the account of the requester.
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