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Get Compliant from Anywhere, Easy and Fast!

0800 007 269 (Toll Free)
Get Compliant from Anywhere, Easy and Fast!

Table of Contents

  • Business Compliance

PAIA Annual Report – 30 June 2025 Deadline Fast Approaching

Get help with your paia annual report submission in South Africa with company partners

On 6 March 2025, the Information Regulator (South Africa) issued a notice to all public and private bodies in South Africa, reminding them of their legal obligation to submit their PAIA Annual Reports between 1 April and 30 June 2025. Many businesses don’t realise that missing this submission, or failing to have a PAIA manual in place, registering an Information Officer, could flag you for POPIA non-compliance. This opens the door to penalties, investigations, and reputational damage.

CLICK TO VIEW THE OFFICIAL NOTICE

PAIA Annual Reports for 2024/2025 to be submitted between 1 April – 30 June 2025 to the Information Regulator. Registration is required for all IOs, HPBs, and DIOs.

If you’ve never submitted a PAIA Report before, or if you’re unsure what the PAIA meaning is or even whether it applies to your business, now is the time to take action and ensure that your business is PAIA and POPI compliant.

In this article, we’ll explain:

  • What PAIA is and why the annual report is required.
  • How it connects to POPIA and your data privacy responsibilities.
  • Who needs to submit and What are the requirements?
  • What happens if you don’t comply?
  • And how Company Partners can manage the entire process for you.

Meet the Deadline, Stress-Free

Company Partners is ready to help you meet the deadline stress-free. Our Expert PAIA Services help you navigate PAIA compliance with ease.
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What is PAIA?

The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000, commonly referred to as PAIA, enables South Africans to access records held by public and private bodies (companies), ensuring transparency and accountability across all sectors. It gives effect to the constitutional right to access information and promotes good governance by allowing individuals to request records that impact their rights.

Why the PAIA Annual Report is required?

The PAIA Annual Report is a legal requirement that helps the Information Regulator monitor how your organisation responds to formal information requests.

The Information Regulator, established under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), is the independent body tasked with monitoring and enforcing compliance with PAIA.

Annual PAIA Reports are vital for:

  • Tracking compliance with access to information obligations.
  • Highlighting transparency in governance and operations.
  • Identifying challenges or bottlenecks in processing requests.
  • Ensuring accountability within organisations.


By submitting your report, your business is doing its part to support good governance and protect information rights in South Africa.

Are you wondering about the paia meaning and how it impacts your business

What is the Link between PAIA and POPI Compliance?

Both PAIA and POPIA are enforced by the Information Regulator and aim to ensure transparency and responsible data handling.

These two laws work hand in hand:

  • PAIA is about how your company shares information when it’s requested.
  • POPIA is about how your company protects personal information in general.


Submitting your PAIA Annual Report shows the Regulator how your business handles requests for access to information. If you don’t submit, or submit incorrectly, it may signal that your business is not compliant with POPIA either – especially if you haven’t registered an Information Officer.

Failure to submit your paia manual may resort in penalties being issued by the regulator

Failure to comply with PAIA may raise red flags about your POPIA compliance, exposing you to legal and reputational risks.

Who Needs to Submit PAIA Annual Reports?

In terms of Section 32 (for public bodies) and Section 83(4) (for private bodies) of PAIA, the following individuals must submit an Annual PAIA Report:

  • Information Officers (IOs) of public bodies
  • Heads of Private Bodies (HPBs) or Deputy Information Officers (DIOs)


An Information Officer (IO) is the person officially responsible for ensuring your business complies with both PAIA and POPIA. Every public and private body in South Africa is required by law to appoint one.

For most small businesses, the business owner or managing director automatically becomes the Information Officer — but you must still register this appointment with the Information Regulator before you can submit your PAIA report. This is a POPIA requirement – and a step many businesses overlook.

Register Your IO – Fast & Easy

Need Help to Register you Information Officer? Our IO Experts can assist to register your Information Officer with the Information Regulator – Online, Easy and Fast!
Get a FREE Consultation

What are Requirements to Submit Your PAIA Report?

To complete your PAIA Annual Report, you’ll need to provide a summary of how your organisation handled information requests during the reporting period.

The report includes details such as:

  • Number of information requests received.
  • Types of requests received.
  • Whether access was granted or refused.
  • Grounds for refusal.
  • Internal appeals (for public bodies).
  • Steps taken to promote access to information.

How to Submit Your PAIA Annual Report

For the 2024/25 period (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025), reports must be submitted to the Information Regulator.

This can be done directly via their online portal, or you can use professional PAIA services to ensure accurate submission – as the process can be time-consuming and takes a measure of expertise.

Important:

  • IOs, HPBs, and DIOs must be registered with the Regulator before submitting a report.
  • A step-by-step submission and registration guide is available on the portal and on https://inforegulator.org.za.

We Handle Your PAIA Report – Start to Finish

Company Partners offers a hassle-free PAIA Annual Report Submission service—we handle the entire process for you, ensuring full compliance, accuracy, and peace of mind.
Get a FREE Consultation

What Happens If You Don’t Submit?

Failing to submit your Annual PAIA Report — or submitting it late — can have serious consequences:

  • Non-compliance with national legislation.
  • Potential investigations and enforcement actions from the Information Regulator.
  • Fines, reputational damage, or even personal liability for those responsible.
  • Missed opportunity to showcase your organisation’s commitment to transparency.
Expert insights on the paia annual report from Company Partners

Don’t leave it to chance. Non-compliance can be far more costly than taking action now - and those costs could be devastating.

How Company Partners Help You Submit on Time

Navigating PAIA compliance can be technical, time-consuming, and easy to get wrong — especially with registration requirements, portal logins, and strict deadlines. That’s where Company Partners steps in.

Why use us?

  • Compliance Assurance – Full adherence to IRSA requirements, no risk of non-compliance or regulatory penalties.
  • Time-Saving – We take over the full process, freeing clients from admin and research burden.
  • Risk Mitigation – Avoid reputational damage or audits due to missed deadlines or incorrect submissions.
  • Peace of Mind – Clients gain confidence that their submission is done right, on time, every time.


Get in touch with Company Partners today, and let’s get your PAIA Annual Report sorted before the 30 June 2025 deadline.

The paia manual does not need to be a complicated matter with the help of company partners

Avoid penalties. Stay compliant. Let Company Partners help you submit on time.

Contact us today!

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