The POPI Act the Act, section by section, free PAIA Guide ↗
The POPI Act / Sections / Section 39
Section 39

Establishment of Information Regulator

Chapter 5 · Supervision · Part A, Information Regulator

There is hereby established a juristic person to be known as the Information Regulator, which— (a) has jurisdiction throughout the Republic; (b) is independent and is subject only to the Constitution and to the law and must be impartial and perform its functions and exercise its powers without fear, favour or prejudice; (c) must exercise its powers and perform its functions in accordance with this Act and the Promotion of Access to Information Act; and (d) is accountable to the National Assembly.

Information Regulatorchapter 5supervisionestablishment
Beyond the text

What this means for your estate

  • This is where “the Regulator”, referenced throughout this whole site, actually comes from: a single, independent, nationwide body created by this section, not a provincial or municipal office. Useful context for who you'd actually be dealing with if your estate is ever investigated or needs to register an Information Officer.
Relevant tool

PopiGuard's Regulator Kit is built around this body specifically, its registration process, its complaint process, its enforcement process.

See PopiGuard for estates →