1.4. The role of the South African Human Rights Commission The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is mandated under PAIA to: Promote the right of access to information Monitor the implementaiton of PAIA by public and private bodies Make recommendations to strengthen the Act Report annually to Parliament The Protection of Personal Information Act The Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (PPIA) amends PAIA in a number of ways. One of the keys ways in which this Act changes PAIA relates to the role of the SAHRC. Under PPIA the SAHRC’s functions in terms of PAIA will be transferred to the Information Regulator, a new independent body which will be set up to monitor both the PPIA and PAIA, and to handle complaints relating to access to information and the protection of personal information. However, the SAHRC will still retain its Constitutional obligation to promote, protect and monitor the right of access to information as with all other rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights. South African Human Rights Commission 15