Every organisation already has an information officer, whether they know it or not. This is the head of the organisation (the responsible party). Certain people, by virtue of their position, are automatically appointed as Information Officers in terms of PAIA and POPI. For private bodies the following types of people are automatically appointed, and it is therefore compulsory that they be registered with the Information Regulator:

• Sole Proprietors
• Any partner in a partnership or any person duly authorised by the partnership
• CEO or Managing Director (or equivalent officer), or any person duly authorised by that officer in a Company or Close Corporation