Nomination Process initiated for Information Regulator's Office

The first steps to setup the Information Regulator's Office gained some momentum when sections 1, 112 & 113 and Part A of Chapter 5 of POPI commenced in April last year. The Deputy Minister of Justice, Hon Member JH Jeffery then gave some indications earlier in May this year that the grading of the Regulator has been agreed upon for the establishment of the Office:

I am pleased to announce that with regards to the appointment of an Information Regulator in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, that agreement has been reached with treasury on the grading of the Regulator and a letter will soon be sent to the Speaker, requesting her to initiate the nomination process envisaged in section 41 of the Act.  This section requires a multi-party committee of the National Assembly to assist with the nomination of persons who are eligible for appointment as members of the Regulator. The appointment of the members of the Regulator will, in turn, facilitate the commencement of the remainder of the Act. 

The latest development sees Parliament asking public for five member nominations to the Office of the Information Regulator. 

Anyone from the public can email his / her signed nomination and acceptance letters together with the CV of the nominee to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services' Committee Secretary, Mr Vhonani Ramaano on or before 17h00, Friday, 14 August 2015.

The relevant contact details for submissions and enquiries are: 

email: vramaano@parliament.gov.za
tel: (021) 403 3820

More info:

In terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act NO 4 of 2013, members of the Regulator must be South African citizens who are appropriately qualified, fit and proper persons - 

• at least one of whom must be appointed on account of experience as a practicing advocate or attorney or a professor of law at a university; and
  
• the remainder of whom must be appointed on account of any other qualifications, expertise and experience relating to the objects of the Regulator.
  

A person may not be appointed as a member of the Regulator if he or she -

• is not a citizen of the Republic;
• is a public servant;
• is a member of Parliament, any provincial legislature or any municipal council;
• is an office-bearer or employee of any political party;
• is an unrehabilitated insolvent;
• has been declared by a court to be mentally ill or unfit; or
• has at any time been convicted, whether in the Republic or elsewhere, of any offence involving dishonesty.

Nominations must contain the full name, address/email address and contact details of the person or organisation making the nomination; a signed acceptance of the nomination by the nominee; and a Curriculum Vitae (CV) providing the nominee’s:

• Full name, ID number and gender;
• Contact details including physical address, telephone / cell number and email address;
• Relevant previous experience (including relevant dates and organisations concerned); and
• Academic qualifications.

We will keep you posted on any further developments.

Should you have any other POPI compliance issues, feel free to contact us at info@franciscronje.com