ACCESS TO INFORMATION MANUAL
(PRIVATE BODY)

PREPARED IN TERMS OF SECTION 51
OF THE PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT 2 OF 2000

INTRODUCTION

This Manual has been prepared in accordance with section 51 of the Act and aims to facilitate a request for access to a record held by The Accounting Room Close Corporation that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights.

DEFINITIONS

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them hereunder, namely –

  • “Act” means the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, as amended from time to time;
  • “Company” means The Accounting Room Close Corporation as more fully described in the overview hereunder;
  • “Information Officer” means the person acting on behalf of the Company and discharging the duties and responsibilities assigned to the head of the Company by the Act.  The Information Officer is duly authorised to act as such and such authorisation has been confirmed by the “head” of the Company in writing;
  • “Manual” means this manual published in compliance with Section 51 of the Act;
  • “Record” means any recorded information, regardless of form or medium, which is in the possession or under the control of the Company, irrespective of whether or not it was created by the Company;
  • “Request” means a request for access to a record of the Company;
  • “Requestor” means any person, including a public body or an official thereof, making a request for access to a record of the Company and includes any person acting on behalf of that person; and
  • “SAHRC” means the South African Human Rights Commission.
  • Unless a contrary intention clearly appears, words signifying:-
    • the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
    • any one gender includes the other genders and vice versa; and
    • natural persons include juristic persons.

Unless otherwise stated, terms defined in the Act shall have the same meaning in this Manual.

OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY

The Accounting Room is a Close Corporation incorporated in accordance with the company laws of South Africa.

The Accounting Room is a well-established firm with offices in Rosebank Johannesburg, which offers reliable accounting, taxation, and company secretarial services to individuals, and small to medium sized enterprises.

CONTACT DETAILS OF INFORMATION OFFICER (SECTION 51(1)(a))

Information Officer: Rosemary Lindes
Postal address: PO Box 72149, Parkview, Johannesburg, 2122
Email: rosemary@theaccountingroom.co.za

Website: www.theaccountingroom.co.za

 

GUIDE TO THE ACT (SECTION 51(1)(b) READ WITH SECTION 10)

The SAHRC has compiled a guide, as required by Section 10 of the Act, containing such information as may reasonably be required by a person who wishes to exercise any right contemplated in this Act.

The guide is available on the SAHRC website, https://www.sahrc.org.za/.

The SAHRC can be contacted directly at: The South African Human Rights Commission: PAIA Unit

The SAHRC website at https://www.sahrc.org.za/ ; or

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development website at www.justice.gov.za at this link: https://www.justice.gov.za/forms/paia/J752_paia_Form%20C.pdf

 

AUTOMATIC DISCLOSURE – CATEGORIES OF RECORDS AVAILABLE WITHOUT HAVING TO REQUEST ACCESS [SECTION 51(1)(c)]

The following Records are automatically available without a person having to request access in terms of the Act:

  • The web page www.theaccountingroom.co.za is accessible to anyone who has access to the Internet. The Company website hosts the following categories of information 
  • Services
  • Client testimonials
  • News and marketing information
  • Other literature intended for public viewing.

 

RECORDS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION [SECTION 51(1)(d)] 

Records are kept in accordance with the following legislation 

  • Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997
  • Companies Act, 2008
  • Income Tax Act, 1962
  • Skills Development Act, 1998
  • Skills Development Levies Act, 1999
  • Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001
  • Value Added Tax Act, 1991

 

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS HELD AND SUBJECT TO REQUEST  

Statutory and Legal 

  • Annual Financial Statements
  • Statutory records & returns, including incorporation documents, memorandum of incorporation and share register
  • Contractual and legal agreements
  • Licenses

Human Resources

  • Employee Records
  • Benefits
  • Remuneration records
  • Leave records

Administration, Finance & Accounting:

  • Accounting Records
  • Tax returns
  • VAT returns
  • Payroll taxes returns

Insurance

  • Policies, including coverage, limits, and insurers
  • Claim Records

Information technology

  • Hardware
  • Software packages
  • Licences
  • IT policies and procedures
  • Operating systems

Assets

  • Fixed assets register
  • Leases

 

ACCESS: PROCEDURE AVAILABLE AND FEES

How to Request a Record (Section 53)

  • Requests for access to records must be made to the Information Officer in the prescribed form, J752 at the address or electronic mail address referred to in 1 above.  Failure to make use of the prescribed form could result in your request being refused or delayed.
  • A request for access to a record must be accompanied by payment of an initial non-refundable request fee of R57.00 (inclusive of VAT). This fee is not applicable to personal requests, i.e. individuals seeking access to records pertaining to him/herself.
  • The requestor must provide sufficient detail on the request form to enable the Information Officer to clearly identify the record as well as the requestor’s identity, which is to be accompanied by positive proof of identification.
  • The requestor must indicate which form of access is required and if he/she wishes to be informed on the decision on the request in any other manner, to state the necessary particulars to be so informed
  • Access is not automatic. The requestor must therefore identify the right he/she is seeking to exercise or protect and provide an explanation as to why the requested record is required for the exercise or protection of that right.
  • If a request is made on behalf of a person, the requestor must then submit proof, to the satisfaction of the Information Officer, of his/her authority to make the request. Failure to do so will result in the request being rejected.

Decision on Request (Section 56)

  • The Requestor will be notified, within 30 days, in the manner indicated by him/her of the outcome of his/her Request, alternatively whether an extension not exceeding 30 days is required to deal with the Request.
  • If the Request for access is granted a further access fee must be paid for the reproduction as well as the search and preparation of the Records and for any time that has exceeded the prescribed hours to search and prepare the Record for disclosure. Access will be withheld until the Requestor has made payment of the applicable fee(s).
  • In the event that the Request for access is refused, reasons for the refusal will be provided and the Requestor will be advised the he/she may lodge an application with a court against the refusal of the Request, as well as the procedure for lodging the application.
  • The Requestor may lodge an internal appeal or an application to court against the tender

 

Availability

This Manual is available on the company website, www.theaccountingroom.co.za, alternatively at 4th Floor, Rosebank Corner, 191 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, 2193 during office hours.