Obtaining of Information through the Promotion of Access to Information Act

QUESTION NO: 1267.N167OE

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 31 OF SEPTEMBER 2006

MR DHM GIBSON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

(1) Since the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, came into effect,

how many times has it been used to obtain information from her department and;
what documentation was requested in each instance.

(2) Whether her department complied with such request in each instance; if not, why not; if so,

(3) Whether her department complied within 30 days; if not,

why did her department not refuse the request;
how many times has a request thus refused been taken to court;
what was the outcome of the court case in each instance and,
what were the associated costs of the litigation to her department in each case?.

REPLY:

1 (a) Since the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, came into effect it has been used twenty nine (29) times to obtain information from my department.

1(b) The following documentation was requested in each instance:

- Information regarding a meeting that purportedly took place between a certain person and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr R Botha on 27 June1990.

- Information regarding a cabinet decision taken on 7 August 1991.

- Information regarding a meeting that purportedly took place between the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr R Botha, and Maj-Gen Holomisa on 26 August 1991.

- Copy of the Department's Promotion of Access to Information Manual

- Department's Internal Policy Guideline Documents

- Department's Section 32 Annual Report to the Human Rights Commission.

Documents on export of Centurion tanks from RSA to a certain country in 1961 and other armaments.

- Export of anti aircraft guns from a certain country to RSA in 1963/4

- Military agreements between a certain country and RSA

- Exchange of military pilots between Swiss-Air and South African Airways between 1983-1992

- Copy of an agreement between Security Services Transkei and The Joint Commission for Security and Co-operation.

- Information regarding Subsistence and travel allowances

- Documentation relating to a diplomatic visa issued to the requester.

- Documentation issued by the Foreign Ministry of a certain country requesting information on the visa issued to a certain person

- Documents relating to a case against the requester

- Information on the human rights situation in a certain country

- Applications, minutes, records and correspondence from nationals of a certain country for asylum

- Information pertaining to nuclear non-proliferation and/or proliferation.

- Information on the relation between RSA and a certain country between 1982-1984

- Information from the archives regarding the relationship between RSA and a certain country

- Information on the communication between a certain country and RSA regarding nuclear programmes and/or nuclear weapons.

- Reports on dismissal of the requester from the Department of Customs and Excise.

- Report in respect of an investigation lodged against a requester.

- Copy of a contract that the Department of Foreign Affairs. concluded with a certain company.

- Access to documents of transfer from 1999 to 2004.

- Requested information regarding visits of SA delegates in 1902,1940-1960 to a certain country.

- Information on all filing systems for correspondence-based records in 1970-1994.

Copy of a submission dated 29 June 1998 regarding the requester's reinstatement.

Records pertaining to discussions between RSA and a certain country.

Copy of a legal opinion on United Nations Convention on the rights of the child.

Records in regard to RSA's interest in the security situation in a certain country between 1960-1995.

Records of inter-governmental communications and agreements between RSA and a certain country regarding a certain person's release. Records regarding a certain country's support of RSA during apartheid.

Records relating to a certain advertised position of in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Copies of the procedure followed for shortlisting and interviewing applicants for a certain post in the Department of Foreign Affairs and the composition of the Panel that interviewed and shortlisted the candidates.

All records, minutes of meetings, agreements between a certain official from the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, a certain country and/or agents relating to RSA individuals and companies.

Annual report of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee of 2003.

- All conference building measure declarations pursuant to the biological, chemical and toxic weapons convention.

Reports to United Nations Resolution 1540 (2004) and Working paper to the 2003 BTWC meetings

Yes, my department complied with all the requests, unless access could be refused as envisaged by the Act.

3. Yes, my department acknowledged all requests within thirty (30) days.