INFORMATION MANUAL FOR "AFRICAN PATHS"

(Required in Terms of Section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, No. 2 of 2000)

1. CONTENTS

1. Contents
2. Definitions
3. Introduction
4. Organisational Particulars

4.1 Introduction to African Paths
4.2 Contact Information
4.3 Section 10 Guide on How to Use the Act
4.4 Records Available in Terms of Other Legislation
4.5 Access to the Records Held by African Paths

4.5.1 Records that are Automatically Available
4.5.2 Records that may be Requested 

4.5.2.1 Internal Administration Records
4.5.2.2 Client-related Records

4.5.3 The Request Procedure

4.6 Other Prescribed Information 

2. DEFINITIONS 

The following terms shall bear the following meaning in this manual:

• "the Act" shall mean the Promotion of Access to Information Act, No. 2 of 2000, together with all relevant regulations published with the Act; 

• "African Paths" the trading name of a partnership between Sandy Roseblade and Bernard Griffin;

• "the Information Officer" shall mean a duly appointed person employed by African Paths to which all requests for information in terms of the Act should be addressed;

• "the / this manual" shall mean this manual prepared in terms of the Act, including all annexures and references to further information contained therein;

• "personnel" shall mean any person who performs work or services for or on behalf of African Paths and is entitled to receive regular remuneration for this work from African Paths , and includes all full-time, part-time and contract employees and directors of African Paths;

• "a record" shall mean any recorded information, whether produced by African Paths or not, that is in the possession of or under the control of African Paths ; 

• "a request" shall mean a request for access to any record kept by African Paths;

• "the requestor" shall mean the person, including juristic persons, making an official request for a record of African Paths, including all natural persons representing organisations that are juristic persons.

• "the SAHRC" shall mean the South African Human Rights Commission;
• All terms used in this manual that are also used in the Act shall have the meanings defined in the Act. 
  Unless a contrary intention clearly applies: 
  
  - the singular includes the plural, and vice versa
  - one gender includes the other, and vice versa
  - natural persons includes juristic persons, and vice versa
  
  
  3. INTRODUCTION
  
  This manual is published in terms of Section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Act No. 2 of 2000) to give effect to the provisions in section 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa regarding the right of persons to access information that is necessary to protect or exercise any rights of such persons held by the State or any other persons.
  
  This manual applies to African Paths, a partnership between Sandy Roseblade and Bernard Griffin. The Information Officer designated below has been appointed as the person who will carry out the functions of an information officer required in terms of the Act for African Paths.
  
  
  4. ORGANISATIONAL PARTICULARS 
  
  4.1 Introduction to African Paths 
  
  African Paths is a business offering personalised guided touring experiences for tourists to tourist attractions in Kwa-Zulu Natal and other parts of South Africa.

4.2 Contact Information

Company Registration Number/s: Not Applicable
Physical Address of Registered Office: The Cottage, 6 Rockhaven Road, Cowies Hill, 3610, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Republic of South Africa
Postal Address: The Cottage, 6 Rockhaven Road, Cowies Hill, 3610, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Republic of South Africa
Telephone Number: +27 (0)31 709-6560
Facsimile Number: +27 (0)31 709-6560
Web Site Address: www.africanpaths.co.za  
Email Address: info@africanpaths.co.za  
Contact Person and Information Officer: Sandy Roseblade
Email Address of Information Officer: sandy@africanpaths.co.za 

 
4.3 Section 10 Guide on How to Use the Act 

The Guide will be available from the South African Human Rights Commission by not later than August, 2003. Please direct any queries to the SAHRC, whose contact details are listed below: 
 

• Consumer Affairs (Unfair Business Practices) Act No. 71 of 1988 

• Harmful Business Practices Act No. 23 of 1999 

• Income Tax Act No. 95 of 1967

• Protection of Businesses Act No. 99 of 1978 

• Stamp Duties Act No. 77 of 1968 

4.5 Access to Records Held by the African Paths 

4.5.1 Records that are Automatically Available

• All information available on the web site of African Paths (URL: www.africanpaths.co.za) 

• Brochures and other promotional literature giving information on the products and services offered by African Paths 

• This manual

4.5.2 Records that May be Requested

4.5.2.1 Internal Administration Records

• Internal policies and procedures

• Records of contracts entered into by African Paths, including partnership and joint venture agreements

• Operational records

• Financial records and reports, including annual financial statements

• Records of fixed and movable property owned and leased by African Paths

• Research information and reports 

• Marketing and product reports

• Internal correspondence and records of correspondence with third parties
  
  4.5.2.2 Client-related Records
  

• Records of all contracts signed with clients

• Research on clients

• Any other records pertaining to African Paths' interactions with clients, including information provided by third parties and transaction records
   

4.5.3 The Request Procedure

All requests to access information should be made in writing on the prescribed form and addressed to the Information Officer specified in 4.2 above. None of the information held by African Paths listed under 4.5.2 is available without the requestor completing the request form that is official in terms of the regulations pertaining to the Act. 

The requestor must provide sufficient detail on this request form to enable the contact person to identify the record requested and who the requestor is. The requestor must identify the right that is sought to be exercised or to be protected and provide an explanation of why the requested record is required for the exercise or protection of that right. If a request is made on behalf of another person, the requestor must then submit proof of the capacity in which the requestor is making the request to the satisfaction of the Information Officer. 

Details of where the forms for requesting information can be found and the applicable fees for such requests are given in 6.1 and 6.2 below. 
 

4.6 Other Prescribed Information

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has not made any regulations in this regard. 


5. AVAILABILITY OF THE MANUAL 

A copy of African Paths' PAIA information manual can be obtained from the registered office of African Paths, on African Paths' web site (www.africanpaths.co.za)  and from the SAHRC (whose contact details are given in 4.3 above).


6. PRESCRIBED FEES AND FORMS

6.1 Prescribed Fees for Requests

All information that is automatically available in terms of 4.5.1 above may be inspected at African Paths' offices or on its web site free of charge. A requestor who seeks a record containing personal information about the requestor is not required to pay the request fee. 

For all other requests for information listed in 4.5.2 above, the requestor must pay the R50 fee per request prescribed in the Act in addition to the prescribed fees in the Act to defray the costs of searching for, producing and communicating the requested information. Details of these fees are available from the SAHRC and in a document that can be downloaded from http://www.doj.gov.za/reg/reg187.doc. The appropriate fees must be paid by cheque or direct deposit into the stipulated bank account of African Paths within 24 hours of the time that the requestor is notified that his / her request has been received and is being actioned.

If the requestor cannot collect the information from African Paths registered office in person, the information will be transmitted electronically, by facsimile or posted to the requestor at the requestor's option, provided that the requestor will be required to pay for the cost of any postage or facsimile transmission at the actual or prescribed rate.

6.2 Prescribed Forms for Requests 

A form requesting information will not be considered if the form is not the official request form and has not been fully completed. The official request form may be obtained from the SAHRC or downloaded from the Department of Justice web site at http://www.doj.gov.za/reg/reg187.doc (Annexure B, Form C). Completed forms should be submitted by email or facsimile to the information officer of the Group (see 3.2 for his / her contact details).