Open Data in South Africa

98 Pages·2013·15.65 MB·English

The Right to Know
The Right to Live
Open Data in South Africa
Dr. Dale T. McKinley
For the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC)
December 2012
The Right to Know
The Right to Live
Open Data in South Africa
__________ (cid:97)(cid:135)(cid:97) __________
Dr. Dale T. McKinley
For the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC)
December 2012
Table of Contents
Excerpts from the Draft Open Democracy Charter (ODAC) ...........................................................3
Excerpts from the Founding Principles of the Open Data and Democracy Initiative ...................4
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................5
Key Themes ........................................................................................................................................7
The importance of information and its pro-active release ...........................................................7
Secrecy ............................................................................................................................................7
(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81) ............................................................................................................................7
PAIA’s mixed bag ...........................................................................................................................8
Non-PAIA access avenues .............................................................................................................8
Capacity problems ..........................................................................................................................8
Open Data ........................................................................................................................................10
Embracing the idea and potential impact ..................................................................................10
One step behind ...........................................................................................................................11
Crowd what? .................................................................................................................................11
Open meetings ..............................................................................................................................11
Creative visualisations ................................................................................................................11
(cid:44)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:39)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:86) ......................................................................................................................12
Housing .........................................................................................................................................12
Development plans .......................................................................................................................12
Municipal budgets and expenditure: ..........................................................................................12
National departmental budgets and expenditure ......................................................................12
Minutes and Resolutions of all Municipal Council Meetings: ...................................................12
Land/Property ..............................................................................................................................12
Social Welfare ...............................................................................................................................12
Government contact information ................................................................................................12
Tenders .........................................................................................................................................13
Energy/Environment/Food ..........................................................................................................13
Information directives/policies ....................................................................................................13
Participatory processes ................................................................................................................13
Implementation of legal rulings and legislation ........................................................................13
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................14
Recommendations for pursuit of open data ....................................................................................16
(With accompanying summarised Case Studies) ...........................................................................20
2 (cid:114) Open Data in South Africa
Excerpts from the
Draft Open Democracy Charter
(ODAC)
Principle 2: ‘Equal Access’ – The principles coordination. Steps should be taken to
described herein should apply equally to all facilitate this principle, such as the creation
people, regardless of any human or social of information hubs and the creation of
characteristic, including race, class, gender, policies pertaining to automatic publication of
language or sexual orientation. This principle tender information if it exceeds a particular
of equality is a substantive equality and thus value.
should include active steps to promote such
Principle 5: ’Quality of Information’ –
equality, such as the minimisation of any
Entities should take active steps to ensure
costs related to access and minimisation of
the accuracy of information provided, with
overly-formalised systems to ensure that all
(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)
persons can participate in public affairs and
and representative of the data from which
decision making in matters that affect them.
it is derived. This can be facilitated through
This must extend too to the publication of
a regular review of information. Entities
information for easy access to all. It should be
that receive requests for information should
noted here that easy access is not necessarily
ensure that that information is given in a
facilitated through electronic publication due
form and manner that is easily accessible and
to the low rates of internet penetration in
understandable by the requestor.
South Africa.
Principle 8: ‘Access to Decision-Making’
Principle 4: ‘Proactive Disclosure’ – All
– Information should be disseminated which
entities should disseminate information
facilitates informed participation in decision-
proactively, making the maximum amount
making in a timely manner, as a furtherance
of information available within the public
of objectives outlined in the Promotion of
domain. Laws providing for regulation of
Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000. This
access to information must not be used to
principle is inclusive of the commitment to
obstruct the release of information. Proactive
the conduct of open meetings. This promotes
information dissemination extends to the
active participation of both internal and
sharing of information between, and within,
external persons in governance.
organizations in order to fully facilitate
__________ (cid:97)(cid:135)(cid:97) __________
Open Data in South Africa (cid:114) 3
Excerpts from the Founding Principles of the
Open Data and Democracy Initiative
Principle 3: We observe that making data Principle 5: By growing partnerships and
freely and widely available to the public, carrying out initiatives and events, we will
including through easily accessible available work together to build the capacity of subject
formats and online, contributes to an matter experts and local stakeholders to
informed and active citizenry as envisioned identify problems where technology can
by the Constitution, and supports an promote transparency and strengthen
inclusive, transparent, and open democracy. democracy. We will work with technologists
Open data can also support improved service to understand these problems and create
(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:73)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3) implementable solutions. We will also
government and non-government operations; (cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:82)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
and yield tangible economic and social the private sector to advocate for robust
(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:192)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:17) open data and draw public attention to its
importance and utility
__________ (cid:97)(cid:135)(cid:97) __________
4 (cid:114) Open Data in South Africa
Introduction
On paper, South Africa has arguably The principles adopted in the Charter
one of the most progressive access to enshrine the key components of open
information regimes in the world. Besides governance for any entity; a ‘gold standard’
the foundational constitutional provision that provides a foundational way forward to
that “everyone has the right of access to a truly open democracy [For full text: http://
any information held by the state; and any www.opendemocracy.org.za/wp-content/
information that is held by another person uploads/010/10/ODCharter_DFT.pdf]
and that is required for the exercise or
In addition, ODAC has spear-headed South
protection of any rights” (Section 32), there
African civil society involvement in and
is enabling legislation in the form of the
engagement with the Open Government
Promotion of Access to Information Act –
Partnership (OGP). The OGP is a new
PAIA (Act No.2 of 2000).
multilateral, global initiative that aims
Regardless, the generalised experience to secure concrete commitments from
of civil society organisations (CSOs) has governments to promote transparency,
been marked by a serious gap between (cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:93)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
stated promise and concrete realisation. harness new technologies to strengthen
Not surprisingly, over the last decade in governance.
particular there has been a rise in the
While ODAC has been engaging with the
demand and need for information; largely
South African government on its OGP action
(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)
plan since they signed onto the Partnership
grassroots community and civic activism
(see: http://opengovpartners.org/za ), the
in the face of sustained socio-economic
South African plan was not widely consulted
problems and an increasingly secretive state.
and engagement with civil society has been
As such, a nationwide campaign in the form
weak and sparse. As ODAC points out: “the
of the Right2Know has more recently arisen
(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)
to try and forge a diverse and collective
(cid:68)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:193)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)
civil society, access to information voice and
of South Africans, nor of the government’s
activism.
actual capacity to improve the open
(cid:48)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3) government environment” (see: http://
organisations of the Right2Know Campaign, opengovernmentafrica.com/about-ogp/).
the Open Democracy Advice Centre
It is within this macro-context then, that a
(ODAC), has taken the lead in advocating
research project was undertaken in order to
for and promoting, an open democracy/
source a representative look at CSOs and
open governance initiative in South Africa.
their access to information/open data ideas,
This recently resulted in the drafting of
experiences and needs. This was done through
an Open Democracy Charter (see excerpts
face-to-face interviews with senior members of
above) which is directly aimed at generating
a sectorally and geographically diverse set of
a declaration of open governance principles
CSOs, inclusive of community organisations,
for South Africa. Government, the private
social movements, and non-governmental
sector, academia and a cross-section of civil
organisations spread across four provinces
society were consulted in the drafting process
(Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and
of the Charter, to ensure representivity of
the Western Cape). All of the organisations
perspective and experience.
Open Data in South Africa (cid:114) 5
have either been active in, or in support of, (cid:55)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)
the Right2Know Campaign. Case studies were emanating from these case studies. This
then compiled that detailed: the organisation’s is followed by a presentation of how those
core work; use of information; experience organisations do or do not engage/think about
with information generation and access; open data. It then provides the main data
information and open data needs to take their (cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)
(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3) (cid:192)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)
of importance to them (these case studies are a critical look at the challenges for moving
available as an appendix to this report). forward with an open data agenda/regime.
__________ (cid:97)(cid:135)(cid:97) __________
6 (cid:114) Open Data in South Africa
Key Themes
The importance of information of the organisations (but especially social
and its pro-active release movements/community organisations such
as the Unemployed People’s Movement
For all the CSOs, information is the
– UPM, Abahlali base Mjondolo – ABM,
heartbeat of their work and activism, a
Umbilo Action Group – UAG and the
‘central component of the democratic project’.
Schubart Park Residents Association –
As the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI)
SPRA) point to a growing ‘culture’ of fear
puts it, access to information represents
and intimidation within government that
a three-tiered right: a liberty right (i.e.
has catalysed self-censorship when it comes
no interference to access); a welfare right
to releasing information to the public
(i.e. realisation by government); and a
(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)
facilitative right (i.e. a platform for civil
personally hazardous conditions for potential
society action). There is a wide range of
whistleblowers (Section 27 and Greenpeace
information – internal and external as well
Africa). Further, as Groundwork and
as generated and accessed – that cuts across
Support Public Broadcaster Coalition (SOS)
an equally wide range of areas/topics, which
explicitly note, a great deal of information
is fundamental to the work and activism of
requested has been, and continues to be,
all the CSOs and the constituencies they
(cid:90)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:73)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)
work with. Just as crucial though, is the
the most common ‘reasons’ for non-disclosure
importance of information to monitoring
being ‘national security’ and ‘3rd party
what the government (and to lesser extent
(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:192)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:92)(cid:183)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)
the private sector) are doing and thus also,
is accessed it is often only partial and of
in trying to hold them publicly accountable.
poor quality. The veil extends to other, more
However, in order to ensure that information
practical levels as well: many of the CSOs
can be effectively processed, best utilised and
(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:73)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)
have the greatest positive impact, there is the
government as well as private sector facilities
need for its pro-active release. At present this
in order to generate information (e.g.
is largely not the case (see related theme on
Health-E on conditions in public hospitals
PAIA below), with the result most often being
or the SDCEA on emission levels of heavy
that the information is either out-dated or
industries); and, government is increasingly
of little practical use to the organisation, its
turning a cold shoulder to information
members/constituencies.
requests simply because some of the CSOs
are perceived to be ‘anti-government’ and/
Secrecy or inveterate ‘trouble-makers’. For most of
the CSOs, this is all wrapped up in a lack
All of the CSOs engaged were unanimous in
of political will to embrace and catalyse the
pointing to the general veil of secrecy that has
public’s access to information.
become a hallmark of both the government
and private sector when it comes to public
(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)
(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)
a veil is particularly thick when it comes to
Despite there being more information ‘out
those areas of information dealing with the
there’ than ever, especially given the rapid
coercive forces of the state (e.g. the police,
rise in the more general availability and
the military and the security-intelligence
use of technologies such as smart phones
services), nuclear infrastructure and project
and the internet, the practical ability to
plans and information involving government-
access and make effective use of it remains
private sector business relationships (e.g.
a serious problem for many community
tenders, outsourced contracts, environmental
organisations and social movements. As
impact assessments, mining permits/
the Cooperative & Alternative Policy Centre
licensing and general procurement of
(cid:11)(cid:38)(cid:50)(cid:51)(cid:36)(cid:38)(cid:12)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:182)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:73)(cid:183)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:80)(cid:3)
government services). Linked to this, many
relates to infrastructural access wherein
Open Data in South Africa (cid:114) 7
the base memberships and constituencies of All of the organisations access a substantial
such CSOs simply cannot afford to purchase amount of information through non-PAIA
the equipment necessary for access. This avenues. Besides both government and
fundamentally developmental ‘digital divide’ private sector information that is readily
potentially poses one of the biggest barriers available to the public (what the CRC has
not only to basic information access but called ‘uncontroversial information’), most
also to open data use in a place like South of the CSOs access a substantial amount of
Africa. And, as the South African History information through:
Archive (SAHA) notes, the second ‘half’
a) Engaging in various forms of research;
of the problem relates to the generalised
disjuncture between access (where and when
b) Bi- and multi-lateral partnerships
that is possible) and the ability to use the
with other CSOs both domestically and
information, to ‘decipher’ it for practical
internationally (for example, the Refugee
understanding and use – effectively a
Help Desk – RHD);
(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)
(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:80)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3) (cid:70)(cid:12)(cid:3) (cid:54)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:18)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)
information access. relationships with government
departments and personnel at all three
PAIA’s mixed bag levels but particularly at the local level;
d) Self-generation – for example by SDCEA
Even though PAIA has been in existence
taking air and soil samples or physically
for over twelve years, there remain a
visiting government and private facilities;
(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:54)(cid:50)(cid:86)(cid:3)
who have never made use of it. Nonetheless,
e) Whistleblowers (although as noted
most of those organisations that have never
earlier, this avenue has been negatively
used PAIA, actually would like to do so,
(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:89)(cid:76)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)
either as a ‘test’ or simply because it would be
fear and intimidation);
a new way to try and access information.
f) Parliamentary hearings, committees,
Others though, such as the National Institute
reports etc. (for example, the Centre for
for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration
Environmental Rights – CER).
of Offenders (NICRO) and the Children’s
Rights Centre (CRC) have avoided using While the use of these avenues has
PAIA largely due to the fact that they rely been ongoing, and in many cases being
heavily on personal and/or organisational accompanied by public advocacy (direct
relationships with various government action) efforts aimed at applying further
departments and personnel for accessing (cid:182)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:183)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:192)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)
information. Because they seek to maintain on them more and more as a result of formal
‘friendly’ relations, some see engaging in the information requests being unsuccessful and
PAIA process (which usually ends up in some other access channels closed down.
kind of litigation) as being ‘confrontational’.
Capacity problems
On the other hand, the majority who have
made use of PAIA have not been successful in
Across all of the CSOs, but more particularly
accessing the information requested. In those
for social movements and community
few cases where there has been ‘success’,
(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:192)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3)
the information received has been partial/
problem of internal capacity when it
limited and often of poor quality. It should
comes to pursuing and sustaining access
come as little surprise then that this has led
to information activities/processes. While
to increasing degrees of cynicism about the
the problem is more acute in respect of
entire PAIA process as the primary means
historically under-resourced community
of accessing information from both the
organisations and social movements whose
government and private sector.
membership is on the socio-economic
margins, there are also many NGOs that
Non-PAIA access avenues are now operating under increasingly severe
8 (cid:114) Open Data in South Africa
capacity constraints. As is the case for as (cid:38)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:192)(cid:85)(cid:72) point out, the general state
example with the Khulumani Support Group of poor in-house record-keeping and data
(KSG), the most frequently cited component management as well as a lack of primary
of this problem is human resources where data-gathering and a standardised means
there is simply not enough personnel/activists of sharing data. Further, organisations
to give the necessary time and attention, point out that the human resource capacity
especially when it comes to sustained problem is also very much ‘alive’ within all
follow-ups. Coupled to this is a lack of in- levels of government, overlaid by high staff
(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:91)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:76)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3) turnover and the generally low standards of
pursue the legal side of information access operating procedures and quality.
when necessary and, as CIVICUS as well
__________ (cid:97)(cid:135)(cid:97) __________
Open Data in South Africa (cid:114) 9