4.3.7. Information which may be refused access to The following categories of information relate to information which an Information Officer may refuse access to, only if they can justify that the information in question falls within the following categories and is not in the public interest to disclose (for further information on the public interest clause see section 4.4 below). 4.3.7.1. South Africa’s defence, security and international relations Section 41 of PAIA requires an information officer to consider whether the request for information relates to information about the security of South Africa. The information officer may refuse a request if they can prove that it will compromise the safety of South Africa to release the information. 4.3.7.2. Economic, financial and commercial interest of South Africa Section 42 of PAIA requires the protection of information of a public body if its disclosure will be harmful to the economic and financial status of the Republic. This ground for refusal is discretionary meaning that the Information Officer will need to take into account the fact that public bodies are mandated under the Constitution of South Africa to be accountable to the public, and that it is therefore only in certain instances that the information may be refused. Further, the Information Officer will need to demonstrate that the disclosure of the information in question will cause harm to the financial and economic interests of South Africa. South African Human Rights Commission 53