subsequent reference. The Electronic Transactions Act also provides for authenticity of data messages under section 7 thereof which provides: “7. Authenticity of data message. (1) Where a law requires information to be presented or retained in its original form, the requirement is fulfilled by a data message if— (a) the integrity of the information from the time when it was first generated in its final form as a data message or otherwise has passed assessment in terms of subsection (2); and (b) that information is capable of being displayed or produced to the person to whom it is to be presented. (2) For the purposes of subsection 1(a), the authenticity of a data message shall be assessed— (a) by considering whether the information has remained complete and unaltered, except for the addition of an endorsement and any change which arises in the normal course of communication, storage or display; (b) in light of the purpose for which the information was generated; and (c) having regard to all other relevant circumstances.” It follows that before admissibility the document has to meet the requirements of authentication or identification. This is a process of verification that establishes that the document is what it purports to be. I.e. that the email was made by the author indicated therein and is unaltered except for the change in the document generated automatically such as adding the date and time in case of email and address. As far as admissibility and weight of evidence of electronic data is concerned section 8 of the Electronic Transactions Act 2011 gives the principles thereof and provides that rules of evidence shall not be applied to deny admissibility on the ground that it is merely a data message or electronic record where it is the best evidence that the person adducing the evidence could reasonably be expected to obtain or on the ground that it is not in the original form. The burden is on the person adducing the data message to prove its authenticity by adducing relevant evidence therefore that the document is what it purports to be. Where best evidence is the evidence required, the rule of best evidence is fulfilled upon proof of the authenticity of the electronic records system in or by which the data was recorded or stored. In assessing the evidential weight the court shall have regard to the reliability of the manner in which the data message was generated, stored or communicated; the reliability of the manner in which the authenticity of the data message was maintained; the manner in which the originator of the data message or electronic record was identified; and any other relevant factor. 21