Information Gaps and Access Requests
Access to information is crucial for climate resilience. Despite the growing collection of online resources that support South Africa’s JET through climate-resilient development, not all relevant information and knowledge is automatically available for public access.
During our research, we identified a range of records relating to South Africa’s progress on climate resilience that should be automatically to the public, but are not. We submitted a series of requests in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to get this information: these are mapped out below. Any records and related information obtained through these requests will be included in this web portal.
Requests (as of June 2024)
Record/s | Information Holder | Request Submission Date | Outcome | |
1 | “Air pollution records” Sulphur Dioxide Expert Panel Report and The Highveld Health Impact Report both before a National Environmental Consultative Forum that is advising the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries on matters related to compliance with the Minimum Emission Standards under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004. | Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries Processing Fee: R100.00 | 29 February 2024 | 4 March 2024: Access refused based section 44 of PAIA – an opinion, advice, report, or recommendation to aid the Minister. |
2 | “Climate change records” - Implementation progress reports for the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, 2019; - Copies of the latest climate change response plans / strategies prepared by provincial governments and district municipalities; and - List of Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Emitters and copies of the latest GHG Reports, Pollution Prevention Plans, and progress reports in terms of National Greenhouse Gas Reporting Regulations, 2017, as amended, and the National Pollution Prevention Plan Regulations, 2017, as amended. | Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries Processing Fee: R100.00 Access Fee: R200.00 | 20 March 2024 | 13 March 2024: Notification of third-party procedure in terms of section 47 of PAIA. 6 May 2024: Intention to release redacted records (personal and commercially sensitive information) within 30-days. |
3 | “Public health sector records” - Resources developed through the implementation of the National Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan (2014-2019); - Implementation progress for the National Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan (2019-2024);and - Information related to the preparation of a National Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan (2024 – 2029). | Department of Health Processing Fee: R35.00 Hardcopy Access Fee: R889.00 | 27 March 2024 | 6 May 2024: Access granted including plans, climate change and health steering committee records, monitoring systems, and training and awareness material. |
4 | “JET plan records” - Quarterly JET Inter-Ministerial Committee reports to Cabinet; - Current staff contracted to the JET Project Management Unit and Terms of reference or similar mandate documents that direct the JET Project Management Unit’s activities; - Updated JET Project Register; - The JET Implementation Plan Risk Register; - The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Framework; and - Records related to the JET PMU’s public platform. | The Presidency Processing Fee: R35.00. | 8 March 2024 | 16 May 2024: Access granted to records and related information where available, including an indication of records that will be published in due course. |
5 | “Energy portal and economic zone records” - The list of entities and projects currently registered on the Energy One Stop Shop portal; - Progress tracking reports, processes, and procedures related to the administration of the Energy One Stop Shop portal; - Records related to Special Economic Zones, including Advisory Board Annual Reports, investment data, performance monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and SEZ Guidelines. | Department of Trade and Industry Processing Fee: R100.00 | 15 April 2024 | 12 April 2024: Access granted to records except for the list of entities and projects currently registered on the energy portal, based on section 37(1)(b) of PAIA - protection of confidential information. |
6 | “Disaster management and relief records” - Records that demonstrate that Disaster Management Centres have included climate change in their terms of reference; - The list of schools that are at high risk referred to in the School Survey Final Report; - Recent surveys, or similar records, that have also assessed the implementation of the disaster risk management directives / guidelines for schools; - Current database, register, or similar record, that contains all existing municipal disaster management frameworks and plans; - A current list of all heads of national disaster management centres; and - Emergency relief expenditure and performance reports from the beginning of 2022 to date. | Department of Cooperative Governance (National Disaster Management Centre) Processing Fee: R100.00 | 13 May 2024 | 10 May 2024: 30-day extension requested in terms of section 26(1)(a) of PAIA. 14 June 2024: Access granted to requested records. |
7 | “Infrastructure fund records” - The Infrastructure Fund Pipeline document, and / or the underlying documents that inform the Pipeline and monitor the implementation progress of projects supported by Infrastructure South Africa; and - Progress reports on Strategic Integrated Projects Gazetted in 2020 and 2022, and the progress report on projects receiving Project Preparation funding from Infrastructure South Africa. | Department of Public Works (Infrastructure South Africa) Processing Fee: R100.00 | 24 May 2024 | Pending |
