ODAC undertook a study trip for government officials to meet up with their counterparts in Sweden. The trips mission was for the delegation to learn about Access to Information and Records Management practices by the Swedish government. While in Sweden the delegation met with the South African Ambassador to Sweden Ambassador S.R. (Zeph) Makgetla.
SA delegation with Ambassador S.R. (Zeph) Makgetla (Centre)
From left to right: Secretariat Ambassadors Office Regina Makhuvele,Ernest Chipu, N.D. Bawuti( Ambassadors Office) Alison Tilley Gabriella Razzano Ambassador Zeph Makgetla, Mashwahle Diphofa, Tobela Tapula, Zukiswa Mlandu, Adv Mark Serfontein
Issues discussed included
- Understanding the difference between information meant for release to the public and privately held information.
- The importance of the Freedom of the Press Act (Sweden) in granting information
- How to preserve information and documents.
- The Secrecy Act used by public officials in Sweden to refuse the release of information.
- Protection of classified information and how the appeal process work.
- The principles governing public access to official documents and public restrictions.
- How the County Council( Equivalent local municipality) shares information that is of concern to the public i.e. Building of new secondary schools
The delegation from South Africa:
- Mr. Mashwahle Diphofa - (Director General at the Public Service Communion
- Adv. Ernest Chipu (Chair of the Co-ordinating Committee for the National Information Officers Forum )
- Mrs. Regina Makhuvele – Director of Records Management at the Limpopo Premiers Office
- Ms. Zukiswa Mlandu – Officer at the Office of the President of South Africa
- Adv Mark Serfontein (Deputy Director General at the KZN Premiers Office)
- Prof. Richard Calland (UCT
- Ms. Alison Tilley – Executive Director of ODAC Ms. Gabriella Razzano - South African History Archives
- Mr. Tobela Tapula - Advocacy Officer at ODAC
The Hosts in Sweden:
- Maria Bring – Records Manager - of Botkyrka,Karin Municipality Borgkvist Ljung – Head of the Swedish National Archives
- Berndt Fredriksson - International Coordinator for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Marianne von der Esch: Head of International Division - The Parliamentary Ombudsmen - JO
- Bo Hammarlund and Alexander Engvers – Departmental Secretariat – Sweden Government and
- Ulla Pousette and LSF Kansli – County Council.
SA delegation with Marianne von der Esch (Centre)
Standing: Mashwahle Diphofa, Mark Serfontein, Gabriella Razzano, Ernest Chipu, Tobela Tapula
Seated: Zukiswa Mlandu, Regina Makhuvele, Alison Tilley
Alison Tilley holding a trade agreement document between Sweden and South Africa. This document was received within 15 minutes of request, proving the efficiency of access to information in Sweden.
