South Africa: The Protection Of Personal Information Act (POPIA); Mandatory Appointment Of Information Officer – What You Need To Know
By Chido Pamela Mafongoya, Centurion Law Group
With the Fourth Industrial Revolution at play and the increase of internet usage, the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) was designed to ensure the protection of personal information when being processed. The main aim of the POPIA is to protect data subjects from security breaches, theft, and discrimination. The POPIA also aligns South Africa’s privacy laws with international standards and international best practices. In terms of POPIA, all organizations who process personal information are required to adopt measures to ensure the protection of personal information. It is mandatory for all data processors and responsible persons to comply with POPIA. The Act provides for a one-year transition period, allowing impac...