Business Edition (Pty) Ltd – Access to Information Manual
We respect your right of access to information. This document will help you exercise that right as required by section 51 of the Promotion to Access of Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA).
- Data protection positioning statement from Business Edition
Introduction
The Promotion of Access to Information Act gives effect to the constitutional right of access to any information held by public bodies and any information that is held by private bodies and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.
Section 51(1) of PAIA requires that the ‘head of a private body’ compiles a manual that contains various information regarding the records held by private bodies. A ‘private body’ means:
- a natural person who carries or has carried on any trade, business or profession, but only in such
- capacity;
- a partnership which carries or has carried on any trade, business or profession;
- any former or existing juristic person; or
- a political party.
We are Business Edition (Pty) Ltd, we are a news agency, and this is our ‘Access to Information Manual’. Its purpose is to help you access our information and any other information that we have. The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) requires us to make it available to you so that you:
- know what types of information we have; and
- can request access to it.
Our details
Our details are as follows:
- Company name: Business Edition (Pty) Ltd
- Registration number: 2021/133234/07
- Postal address: C/o Strand and Adderley Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, 8000
- Physical address: C/o Strand and Adderley Street, Cape Town , Western Cape, 8000
- Phone number: 064 541 4757
- Information officer: Hannes Kies
- Information officer email: hannes@businessedition.co.za
- Contact email: dataprotectionofficer@businessedition.co.za
- Website: https://businessedition.co.za
Further guidance
If you would like further guidance on how you can get access to information, you may contact the Information Regulator to find out more information about PAIA. The Information Regulator is required to compile a guide in each official language of South Africa on how to exercise any right under PAIA. The current guide compiled by the South African Human Rights Commission is available here. The Information Regulator’s contact details are as follows:
- Postal address: P.O Box 3153, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
- Physical address: JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001
- Phone number: 010 023 5200
- Website: https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/index.html
- General e-mail: inforeg@justice.gov.za
- Complaints email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za
Records we hold
We hold the following subjects and categories of records:
- Agreements or contracts;
- Published information;
- Customer information;
- Reference materials.
- Emails
- Contact numbers
- ID. Numbers
- Name and Surname
- Banking details
Records that are automatically available
The following records are automatically available to you without needing to use the request procedure set out in PAIA and detailed in under the ‘How to request access’ section of the manual:
- Memorandum of incorporation – automatically available from CIPC;
- Directors’ names – automatically available from CIPC;
- Documents of incorporation – automatically available from CIPC;
- Banking details – automatically available on request;
- Brochures – automatically available on request;
- External newsletters and circulars; and
- Information available on our website.
Please note that records that are ‘not automatically available,’ must be requested using the process outlined in the ‘How to request access’ section of this manual.
Company records
Company records are all our records related to the incorporation and administration of our company. Some of them are available from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
| Minutes of board of directors meetings | Not automatically available |
| Written resolutions | Not automatically available |
| Records relating to appointment of directors, auditor, secretary, public officer, or other officers | Not automatically available |
| Share register and other statutory registers | Not automatically available |
| Other statutory records | Not automatically available |
Business records
Business records include any documents that have economic value to the business.
| Operational records | Not automatically available |
| Databases | Not automatically available |
| Internal correspondence | Not automatically available |
| Product records | Not automatically available |
| Systems, solutions and information technology | Not automatically available |
| Intellectual property pertaining to solutions and products developed | Not automatically available |
Financial records
Financial records are all our records related to our finances.
| Financial statements | Not automatically available (NDA required) |
| Tax returns | Not automatically available |
| Other documents relating to taxation of the company | Not automatically available |
| Accounting records | Not automatically available |
| Banking records | Not automatically available |
| Bank statements | Not automatically available |
| Electronic banking records | Not automatically available |
| Asset register | Not automatically available |
| Invoices | Not automatically available |
| Financial agreements | Not automatically available |
Insurance records
Insurance records are all our records related to our insurable assets.
| Insurance policies held by the company | Not automatically available |
Income tax records
Income tax records are all our records related to our income tax obligations.
| PAYE Records | Not automatically available |
| Corporate tax records | Not automatically available |
| Documents issued to employees for income tax purposes | Not automatically available |
| Records of payments made to SARS on behalf of employees | Not automatically available |
| Skills Development Levies | Not automatically available |
| UIF | Not automatically available |
Personnel records
Personnel records are all our records about anyone who works for us, provides services to us, or provides services on our behalf and who receives or is entitled to receive remuneration, including our employees, contractors, and other personnel.
| List of employees | Not automatically available |
| Employee personal information | Not automatically available |
| Employee employment contracts | Not automatically available |
| Employment applications and appointment letters | Not automatically available |
| Employment policies and procedures | Not automatically available |
| Employment Equity Plan | Not automatically available |
| Health and safety records | Not automatically available |
| Salaries or wages of employees | Not automatically available |
| Leave records | Not automatically available |
| Internal evaluations and performance records | Not automatically available |
| Disciplinary records | Not automatically available |
| Training records | Not automatically available |
| Personal records provided by personnel | Not automatically available |
Policies and directives
Policies and directives include both internal and external documents.
| Internal relating to employees and the company | Not automatically available |
| External relating to clients and other third parties | Not automatically available |
| Information technology systems and documents | Not automatically available |
Agreements or contracts
Agreements or contracts include the documents themselves and all related documents.
| Standard Agreements | Not automatically available |
| Contracts concluded with customers/Merchants | Not automatically available |
| NDAs | Not automatically available |
| Third party contracts (such as JV agreements, VAR Agreements, etc.) | Not automatically available |
| Office management contracts | Not automatically available |
| Rental agreements | Not automatically available |
| Supplier or service contracts | Not automatically available |
Regulatory documents (see section below “Information we hold to comply with the law”)
Regulatory documents include any documents required to comply with any laws.
| Permits | Not automatically available |
| Licences | Not automatically available |
| Authorities | Not automatically available |
Published information
Published information includes any document that we prepare and produce.
| Internal newsletters and circulars | Not automatically available |
| Information on the company published by third parties | Not automatically available |
Customer information
Customer information includes any information about anyone that we provide goods or services to, including our customers, leads, or prospects.
| Customer details | Not automatically available |
| Contact details of individuals within customers | Not automatically available |
| Communications with customers | Not automatically available |
| Sales records | Not automatically available |
| Transactional information | Not automatically available |
| Marketing records | Not automatically available |
Reference materials
Reference materials include any sources of information that we contribute to.
| Newsletters and journals articles | Not automatically available |
Information we hold to comply with the law
We hold records for the purposes of PAIA in terms of the following main laws, among others:
| Employment |
| Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 |
| Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003 |
| Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease Act 130 of 1993 |
| Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 |
| Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 |
| Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 |
| Skills Development Levies Act 9 of 1999 |
| Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001 |
| Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act 4 of 2002 |
| Finance |
| Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 |
| National Credit Act 34 of 2005 |
| Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 |
| Value Added Tax Act 89 of 1991 |
| General |
| Prescription Act 18 of 1943 |
| Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 |
| Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 |
| Protected Disclosures Act 26 of 2000 |
| Promotion of Access to Information Act, No 2 of 2000 |
| Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004 |
| Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 |
| Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication related Information Act 70 of 2002 |
| Intellectual Property |
| Copyright Act 98 of 1978 |
| Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act, No 38 of 1997 |
| Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act, No 28 of 2013 |
| Trademarks Act 194 of 1993 |
| Information and Communications Technology |
| Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005 |
| Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 |
| Operations |
| Companies Act 61 of 1973 |
| Companies Act 71 of 2008 |
| Competition Act 89 of 1998 |
| Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 |
| Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 |
| Prevention & Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 |
How to request access
We have authorised and designated our information officer to deal with all matters relating to PAIA in order to comply with our obligations in terms of PAIA. To request access to a record, please complete Form 2 which is available from:
- The Information Regulator website at: https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/docs/forms/InfoRegSA-PAIA-Form02-Reg7.pdf
Please submit the completed form to our information officer together with the relevant request fee (as described in the table below under the ‘How much it will cost you’ section) at our information officer’s email address, or our physical address in terms of our details provided above. Please ensure that the completed form:
- has enough information for the information officer to identify you, the requested records, and which form of access you require;
- specifies your email address, postal address, or fax number (if applicable);
- describes the right that you seek to exercise or protect;
- explains why you need the requested record to exercise or protect that right;
- provides any other way you would like to be informed of our decision other than in writing; and
- provides proof of the capacity in which you are making the request if you are making it on behalf of someone else (we will decide whether this proof is satisfactory).
If you do not use the standard form we may:
- reject the request due to lack of procedural compliance;
- refuse it if you do not provide sufficient information; or
- delay it.
Grounds for refusal
We may have to refuse you access to certain records in terms of PAIA to protect:
- someone else’s privacy;
- another company’s commercial information;
- someone else’s confidential information;
- the safety of individuals and property;
- records privileged from production in legal proceedings; or
- research information.
We will notify you in writing whether your request has been approved or denied within 30 calendar days after we have received a completed request for access form. If we cannot find any requested record or it does not exist, then we will notify you by way of affidavit that it is not possible to give access to that particular record.
How we will give you access
We will evaluate and consider all requests to us in terms of PAIA. If we approve your request for access to our records, we will decide how to provide access to you – unless you have asked for access in a specific form. Publication of this manual does not give rise to any rights to access information records, except in terms of PAIA.
How much it will cost you
You must pay us a request fee as required by law when submitting a request for access to information. The prescribed fees are as set out below:
| Item | Description | Amount |
| 1. | Request fee payable by every requestor | R140,00 |
| 2. | Photocopy of A4-size page | R2,00 per page or part thereof |
| 3. | Printed copy of A4-size page | R2,00 per page or part thereof |
| 4. | Copy in a computer-readable form on:flash drive (to be provided by requestor) compact discif provided by requestor If provided to the requestor | R40,00 R40,00R60,00 |
| 5. | Transcription of visual images per A4-size page | Service to be outsourced. Will depend on quotations from the service provider. |
| 6. | Copy of visual images | |
| 7. | Transcription of an audio record, per A4-size page | R24,00 |
| 8. | Copy of an audio record on:flash drive (to be provided by requestor) compact discif provided by requestor If provided to the requestor | R40,00 R40,00R60,00 |
| 9. | To search and prepare the record for disclosure for each hour or part of an hour, excluding the first hour, reasonably required for such search and preparation. | R145,00 |
| To not exceed a total cost of | R435,00 | |
| 10. | Deposit – if the search exceeds 6 hours | One third of the amount per request, calculated in terms of items 2 to 8 above. |
| 11. | Postage, e-mail or any other electronic transfer | Actual expense, if any. |
You must pay us the fees before we will hand over any information. You may have to pay a further access fee if we grant the request for any time that has exceeded the prescribed hours to search and prepare the record for disclosure, as described in the table above.
How we process and protect personal information
We protect personal information and process it as set out in our Privacy Policy, which is available here: https://businessedition.co.za/privacy-policy/
Remedies
If your request for access is denied, you may:
- apply to a court with appropriate jurisdiction, or
- lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator by following the prescribed process,
for the necessary relief.
You can lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator using this form:
Availability of this Manual
This manual is available in English, and at our company offices.
Updates to this Manual
This manual will be updated whenever we make material changes to the current information.
