Records & POPIA
PAIA Request Handling
Volume, outcomes and turnaround of access-to-information requests under PAIA.
Why PAIA turnaround is a measurable legal duty
The Promotion of Access to Information Act gives requesters enforceable rights with statutory deadlines, and failure to respond within the prescribed period is itself a refusal that can be taken on review or to the Information Regulator. Tracking volume, outcomes and turnaround is therefore both a compliance and a reputational matter. AuditPro Core monitors the PAIA request pipeline so the Information Officer can manage deadlines and report defensibly.
The Numbers
AuditPro Core renders this view from your tenant's live, tamper-evident records. The figures below are illustrative sample data.
Requests received
138
last 12 months
Granted in full
61%
Deemed refusals
9
no timely response
Avg turnaround
24 days
Request outcomes
Requests by requester type
| Requester | Count | Avg days | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media | 41 | 21 | 8 |
| Public | 52 | 26 | 6 |
| Legal / firms | 28 | 22 | 9 |
| Civil society | 17 | 28 | 4 |
Figures shown are illustrative sample data for demonstration. AuditPro Core renders these views from your own tenant's live, tamper-evident records.
Deadlines run from receipt
PAIA sets a 30-day period for decisions, extendable only in defined circumstances. Silence beyond the deadline is deemed a refusal, so date-of-receipt tracking is the core control.
Outcomes must be justified
Granting, refusing or partially refusing access each carries reasons and grounds under the Act. Recording the outcome and its basis is essential if a decision is later challenged.
Volume reveals systemic pressure
Trends in request volume and type indicate where proactive disclosure could reduce burden and where capacity is strained. This intelligence informs the annual Section 32 reporting to the Regulator.
How AuditPro Core Bridges the Gap
- Deadline tracking: AuditPro Core counts the statutory clock from receipt and flags requests approaching or past the 30-day mark.
- Outcome capture: each request records its disposition and grounds, building a defensible decision trail.
- Exception escalation: overdue or contested requests are routed for management attention before they become deemed refusals.
- Reporting export: aggregated volume and outcome data feeds the annual PAIA report to the Information Regulator.
Key Takeaways
- The 30-day clock starts at receipt and silence equals refusal.
- Record the basis for every grant or refusal in case of review.
- Volume trends signal where proactive disclosure helps.
- Tracked data underpins the mandatory annual PAIA report.
See This on Your Own Data
AuditPro Core renders this dashboard from your tenant's live, tamper-evident records — every figure traceable to source.