ODAC is a non-profit non-governmental company registered in terms of section 21 of the Companies Act, No. 61 of 1973. It is an association between the Institute for Democracy in Southern Africa ("IDASA"), the Black Sash Trust and the Department of Public Law of the University of Cape Town.
The location of Parliament and the network of advocacy organisations promoting open and accountable governance, such as the Open Democracy Campaign Group, makes Cape Town the ideal location for the Open Democracy Advice Centre.