Information flows for meaningful implementation of the promotion of administrative justice act of South Africa

摘要

The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act of South Africa (AJA) requires administrators to provide those who have been negatively affected by a decision with reasonable explanations if these are requested. Fair and accountable administration is identified as a basic constitutional right in South Africa. However, ensuring that state departments can provide information on request to even remote and poorly resourced citizens is a major undertaking and, other than taking grievances to court, it is difficult to initiate, respond to and monitor the process. The information flows pose the most significant challenges. An investigation is underway into how rural Communities can use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to access this right. Sen's Capabilities Approach is used to relate the role of ICT to an expansion of the capabilities of individuals and communities, which translates into them acquiring genuine options to access their constitutional right. The research has already involved interviewing representatives from a number of groups. This was done to identify the possible information flows, end-user requirements and social and individual constraints. The paper proposes an information flow incorporating facilitators and a 'clearing house' in addition to the citizens and administrators.