Promotion of Access to Information

Information disclosure

Transparency is essential to achieve the Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency’s mission of propelling South African businesses onto the global stage.

Transparency enables Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency to provide the public with a clear picture of Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency’s work and the way it administers financial resources received from public, private and other sources.

Accordingly, the timely and effective provision of information about Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency and its activities is of paramount importance.

The Governing Instrument provides that Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency will operate in a transparent and accountable manner guided by efficiency and effectiveness.

Information Disclosure Policy

Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency seeks to ensure the greatest degree of transparency in all its activities through the effective dissemination of information to stakeholders and the public at large. Recognising the need to ensure public access and stakeholder participation, Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency sets out the Information Disclosure Policy (IDP) which outlines the information that is made available to the public either as a routine matter or upon request.

At its 12th meeting in March 2020, the Board adopted the Information Disclosure Policy (IDP) through which Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency reaffirms its commitment to transparency and accountability in all aspects of its operations.

1. Principle 1: Maximise access to information Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency reaffirms its commitment to transparency in all of its activities and therefore seeks to maximise access to any documents and information that it produces and to information in its possession that is not on the list of exceptions. Furthermore, so long as Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency is not legally obligated to confidentiality, information on the list of exceptions will be disclosed in accordance with timelines and procedures specified for that purpose.
2. Principle 2: Limited exceptions: Any exceptions to disclosure will be predicated upon the possibility, narrowly and clearly defined, that the potential harm to interests, entities or parties arising from the disclosure of information would outweigh the benefits, that Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency is legally obligated to non-disclosure or has received information from third parties clearly marked as confidential. Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency may, in exceptional circumstances, decide not to disclose or delay dissemination of information that would normally be accessible if it determines that the harm that might occur by doing so will outweigh the benefits of access. Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency may also, in exceptional circumstances, make available to the public information ordinarily excluded from disclosure when it determines that the benefit would outweigh the potential harm, except where Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency is legally obligated to confidentiality.
3. Principle 3: Simple and broad access to information Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency will employ all practical means to facilitate access to information, maximise access to such information, and use clear and cost-effective procedures and timelines for processing requests.
4. Principle 4: Explanations of decisions denying access, and right to review When denying access to information on request the Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency will provide an explanation for its decision. Requesters who believe they have been denied access to information in violation of this Policy will have the right to have such decision reviewed by the Information Appeals Panel.

Information requests

Requests for information may be submitted using the PAIA Request for Information paper or online forms. Paper forms should be filled out and sent through mail or e-mail to:

Mail: Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency
          68 Grayston Drive, Sandown, Sandton
          Johannesburg
          paia@vuka.org.za

Requests should indicate with reasonable specificity the information that is being sought to enable the Secretariat, within a reasonable period of time, to locate the information.

Requests for information and the corresponding decisions by the Secretariat will be written in English, which is the working language of Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency.

In responding to requests for information, the Secretariat will provide the requested information or document or refer the requester to the relevant link on the Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency website whenever possible.

In case of denial, the Secretariat will provide a legitimate reason as to why the information cannot be given, based on the following:

• exceptions or limitations to disclosure defined by Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency;
• the fact that such information does not exist or cannot be found; or
• if the request is deemed to be an excessive demand on Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency’s resources.

Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency shall not be required to comply with, or respond to, repeated or unreasonable requests for information on the same subject from the same person, organization, or group if the Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency has provided such information after a previous request or has given reasons why it cannot provide information.

For information requests that involve the reproduction of material, Vuka Trade and Enterprise Development Agency may charge a fee, which will be communicated to the requester in advance.