IPID’s ‘Dog Ate My PAIA Application’ Excuse for Delay in ActionSA Request
Michael Beaumont
ActionSA National Chairperson
With the first deadline now passed since ActionSA’s application was submitted a month ago in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), IPID has sought a 30-day extension, citing a reason one can only liken to “The dog ate my PAIA application.”
At the end of April, ActionSA submitted a PAIA application to unseal the IPID report investigating the conduct of the Presidential Protection Unit in relation to their involvement in the Phala Phala matter. The classification of this report as ‘Top Secret’ was unlawful, as government policy only allows for such classification in circumstances limited to the outbreak of war or the loss of diplomatic ties. This follows the Public Protector’s finding that members of the Presidential Protection Unit had acted outside of their legal mandate and abused their powers in relation to investigations into the theft at Phala Phala.
In late May, after weeks of radio silence, ActionSA received a formal response from IPID indicating that they would extend the deadline for releasing the report. The reason given for this delay was that IPID’s email system was down. In submitting this response, IPID has affirmed ActionSA’s belief that it does not want the South African public to see the contents of this report.
In light of this, ActionSA has submitted parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police to determine whether IPID’s system has indeed been down and whether a downed email system has genuinely prevented IPID from performing any of its constitutionally mandated functions over the past month. Should it be revealed that IPID has lied in its response to ActionSA’s PAIA application, ActionSA will ensure that consequences follow for those involved.
ActionSA remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the highest offices of our country. Our concern is that crimes such as those committed at Phala Phala must be investigated by detectives, not by those tasked with protecting the President — including from his own potential breaches of the law. For too long, blue-light drivers and VIP protection officers have acted as laws unto themselves, with no consequences for those in political office whose interests they unlawfully protect. ActionSA will not let this matter rest and, if the IPID report is not received by the new deadline of 30 June 2025, legal action will follow.
ActionSA will not tolerate a situation where the interests of protecting the President see compromises to the rule of law.
IPID’s ‘Dog Ate My PAIA Application’ Excuse for Delay in ActionSA Request
With the first deadline now passed since ActionSA’s application was submitted a month ago in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), IPID has sought a 30-day extension, citing a reason one can only liken to “The dog ate my PAIA application.”
At the end of April, ActionSA submitted a PAIA application to unseal the IPID report investigating the conduct of the Presidential Protection Unit in relation to their involvement in the Phala Phala matter. The classification of this report as ‘Top Secret’ was unlawful, as government policy only allows for such classification in circumstances limited to the outbreak of war or the loss of diplomatic ties. This follows the Public Protector’s finding that members of the Presidential Protection Unit had acted outside of their legal mandate and abused their powers in relation to investigations into the theft at Phala Phala.
In late May, after weeks of radio silence, ActionSA received a formal response from IPID indicating that they would extend the deadline for releasing the report. The reason given for this delay was that IPID’s email system was down. In submitting this response, IPID has affirmed ActionSA’s belief that it does not want the South African public to see the contents of this report.
In light of this, ActionSA has submitted parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police to determine whether IPID’s system has indeed been down and whether a downed email system has genuinely prevented IPID from performing any of its constitutionally mandated functions over the past month. Should it be revealed that IPID has lied in its response to ActionSA’s PAIA application, ActionSA will ensure that consequences follow for those involved.
ActionSA remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the highest offices of our country. Our concern is that crimes such as those committed at Phala Phala must be investigated by detectives, not by those tasked with protecting the President — including from his own potential breaches of the law. For too long, blue-light drivers and VIP protection officers have acted as laws unto themselves, with no consequences for those in political office whose interests they unlawfully protect. ActionSA will not let this matter rest and, if the IPID report is not received by the new deadline of 30 June 2025, legal action will follow.
ActionSA will not tolerate a situation where the interests of protecting the President see compromises to the rule of law.