Newly-appointed members of the Information Regulator (South Africa) were introduced for the first time by the Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister, Mr John Jeffery during a media briefing in Cape Town recently.
The Information Regulator, which was announced 20 February 2017, is empowered to monitor and enforce compliance by public and private bodies in line with the provisions of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).
The Information Regulator consists of three fulltime and two part time members namely;
Fulltime members:
- Advocate Pansy Tlakula – Chairperson
- Advocate Lebogang Stroom-Nzama – responsible for the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)
- Advocate Collen Weapond – responsible for the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)
Part time members:
- Mr Sizwe Snail ka Mtuze
- Professor Tana Pistorius- both members are responsible for POPIA and PAIA.
Speaking at the media briefing, Deputy Minister Jeffery said he is happy with the newly-appointed team and they would ensure access, promotion and protection of personal information in the country.
Explaining the regulator’s mandate, Advocate Tlakula said its mission is to ensure that both the constitutionally guaranteed right of access to information and the right to privacy are equally protected and enjoyed. “Failure to do so might result in one part of our mandate being given more prominence than the other,” she cautioned.
The Information Regulator is also responsible for issuing codes of conduct for different sectors and to make guidelines to assist bodies with the development and application of codes of conduct.
