{"id":3348,"date":"2025-11-20T16:19:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T16:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itlawco.com\/?page_id=3348"},"modified":"2025-11-21T15:45:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T15:45:42","slug":"paia-fees-for-private-bodies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/itlawco.com\/fr\/focus-areas\/paia-guide-for-south-african-organisations\/paia-fees-for-private-bodies\/","title":{"rendered":"PAIA fees for private bodies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t
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Reviewed by:<\/strong> ITLawCo\u2019s Access to Information Team
Last updated:<\/strong> 20 November 2025
Jurisdiction:<\/strong> South Africa<\/p>\n

PAIA allows anyone to request access to records held by private bodies, but it also permits organisations to charge regulated fees for processing those requests. These fees ensure cost recovery for search time, reproduction, redactions, and preparation. This page explains exactly what private bodies may charge under section 54 of PAIA and the 2021 Regulations, when those fees apply, and how to remain compliant while managing operational impact.<\/p>\n

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1. Why PAIA fees exist<\/h2>\n

PAIA<\/a> gives everyone the constitutional right to request access to information held by public and private bodies. To prevent frivolous use of the system and to ensure that processing does not impose an unreasonable financial burden on organisations, PAIA allows private bodies to charge regulated, cost-recovery fees.<\/p>\n

These fees are mandated by section 54 of the Act and by Annexure B of the 2021 PAIA Regulations (GNR.757)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Private bodies may not create their own fees or deviate from the prescribed tariffs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2. Key statutory definitions that apply to fees<\/h2>\n

\u201crecord\u201d<\/h3>\n

Any recorded information, regardless of form, medium, or origin. This includes emails, PDFs, databases, multimedia files, and physical documents.
Impact:<\/strong> Fees apply to all forms of reproduction and preparation.<\/p>\n

\u201crequester\u201d<\/h3>\n

Any person making a PAIA request for a private body\u2019s records, whether acting personally or on behalf of someone else.
Impact:<\/strong> Anyone may be charged the R140 request fee unless the request relates to their own personal information.<\/p>\n

\u201cprivate body\u201d<\/h3>\n

Includes natural or juristic persons carrying on a trade, business, or profession; partnerships; companies; trusts; and political parties.
Impact:<\/strong> The fee schedule applies broadly across the private sector.<\/p>\n

3. Where fees fit in the private-body PAIA workflow<\/h2>\n