South African Reserve Bank Group PAIA/POPIA manual in terms of Sections 14 and 51 of the promotion of access to information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000) and the protection of personal information Act, 2013 (Act No, 4 of 2013). 

Structure and functions of the SARB

Mandate

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is the central bank of the Republic of South Africa, established in terms of Section 223 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. It performs its functions in terms of the South African Reserve Bank Act, 1989 (Act No. 90 of 1989 (SARB Act). The regulations promulgated under the SARB Act provide the enabling framework for the SARB’s operations. The primary object of the SARB is to protect the value of the currency in the interest of balanced and sustainable economic growth in the Republic. In addition to its primary objective, it has the task of promoting and enhancing financial stability.

Structure

Board and Governors

• The SARB Act provides for a Board of Directors (Board) consisting of 15 members. Among the members are the Governor and three Deputy Governors of the SARB, who are appointed by the President of the Republic for a term of five years each. Four other directors are appointed by the President for a term of three years.
• The remaining seven directors, of whom one represents agriculture, one labour, one mining, two industry and two commerce or finance, are elected by the shareholders of the SARB for a period of three years. The Governor and Deputy Governors manage the daily affairs of the SARB. The Board on the other hand is responsible for corporate governance and plays a supervisory role in terms of the SARB Act.
  

The SARB has the following subsidiaries and associated entities (collectively known as the SARB Group):

• The South African Bank Note Company (RF) (Pty) Ltd (SABN);
• The South African Mint Company (RF) (Pty) Ltd (South African Mint);
• The Corporation for Public Deposits (CPD);
• Prudential Authority (PA);
• Corporation for Deposit Insurance (CODI) (once established); and
• SARB Retirement Fund (SARB RF).
  

Functions of the SARB

The SARB, in the pursuance of its mandate and the fulfilment of its responsibilities, has the following key functions:

Monetary Policy

The Constitution gives the SARB the mandate to protect the value of the rand. Interest rates are used to keep inflation low and steady.

Financial Stability

The SARB has a legislative mandate to protect and enhance financial stability. The SARB identifies and mitigates systemic risks that might disrupt the financial system.

Prudential Regulation

The Prudential Authority regulates financial institutions and market infrastructures to promote and enhance their safety and soundness, and support financial stability.

Financial Markets

Open market operations are the main tools used to implement monetary policy. The SARB manages South Africa’s gold and foreign exchange reserves.

Financial Surveillance

The SARB is responsible for regulating cross-border transactions, preventing the abuse of the financial system, and supporting the regulation of financial institutions.

Payments and Settlements

The SARB is responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of the national payment system, which is the backbone of South Africa’s modern financial system.

Statistics

The SARB provides important economic and financial statistics that present an overview of the economic situation in South Africa.

Research

Research conducted by the SARB focuses on economics, financial stability, banking, and emerging trends in finance. The research supports policy decision-making.

Banknotes and coin

The SARB has the sole right to make, issue and destroy banknotes and coin in South Africa.

Deposit Insurance

Upon promulgation of the Financial Sector Laws Amendment Bill (FSLAB), CODI will be established as a deposit insurer and SARB will become the resolution authority for designated institutions.

Information officer for the SARB Group

The Governor of the SARB is, in terms of section 1 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000 (PAIA) and section 1 of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA), the Information Officer of the SARB. The Governor, however, has delegated the powers and duties conferred and imposed on him in terms of section 17(3) of PAIA to the Chief Information Officer of the SARB, who assumes the role in his/her capacity as Deputy Information Officer for the purposes of PAIA and POPIA. The Deputy Information Officer of the SARB can be contacted as follows:

Physical address

Irene Link

13 Impala Avenue

Doringkloof

Centurion

0157

Postal address

P O Box 427

Pretoria 0001

Tel.: +27 12 313 3911

Email address privacy@resbank.co.za www.resbank.co.za

The SARB

SARB associated companies and entities

In terms of section 10 of the PAIA, the Information Regulator has compiled an official guide which contains information to assist any person wishing to exercise his/her rights of access to information in terms of PAIA, alternatively any other right entrenched in the POPIA.

A copy of the official guide is available from the office of the Information Regulator at the address provided below:

The Information Regulator (South Africa) JD House

27 Stiemens Street

Braamfontein

JOHANNESBURG

2001

The Information Regulator can also be contacted by post, telephone, fax or email at: P O Box 31533

Braamfontein

Johannesburg 2017

Telephone Number: +27 10 023 5200

Fax Number: (011) 403 0668

Complaints email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za

General Enquiries email: inforeg@justice.gov.za

This Manual is compiled in accordance with sections 14 and 51 of PAIA and the Regulations to POPIA. It is intended to give a description of the records held by, and on behalf of the SARB, to outline the procedure to be followed and the fees payable when requesting access to any of these records under PAIA or when exercising any right under POPIA.

POPIA was enacted in 2013 and is intended to promote the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies. POPIA has amended certain provisions of PAIA, balancing the need for access to information against the need to ensure the protection of personal information.

PAIA recognises certain limitations to the right of access to information, including, but not exclusively, limitations aimed at the reasonable protection of privacy and protection of personal information in a manner which balances that right with any other rights contained in POPIA.

Compliance with POPIA

 In accordance with POPIA, personal information is processed in a lawful manner so as not to infringe your privacy. The personal information that is processed will depend on the purpose for which it is collected. It will be disclosed to you why the personal information is being collected and it will be processed for that purpose only.

If your personal information has been processed, you have the right to request the correction, deletion or destruction of your personal information, in the prescribed form. You may also object to the processing of your personal information in the prescribed form. The prescribed forms have been attached to this Manual for your convenience.

You will be given a written estimate of the fee for providing you with your personal information, before providing you with the services.

The type of personal information that may be processed, the purposes for which it may be processed and the parties with whom it may be shared with are listed in the SARB External privacy notice (www.resbank.co.za).

The personal information that is processed may be disclosed to any of the SARB’s subsidiaries, associate entities or third-party service providers, with whom the SARB engages in business or whose services or products The SARB elects to use, including cloud services hosted in international jurisdictions.

The SARB endeavours to enter into written agreements to ensure that other parties comply with the SARB’s confidentiality, security and privacy requirements.

Personal information may also be disclosed to other parties where the SARB has a legal duty or a legal right to do so.

The SARB endeavors to take appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational measures to prevent loss of, damage to, or unauthorised destruction of personal information and unlawful access to or processing of personal information.

Requests for access to personal information

Requests for personal information under POPIA must be made in accordance with the provisions of PAIA.

Objection and requests for correction, deletion or destruction

Objections against processing of personal information, requests for correction, deletion or destruction of personal information must be made in accordance with POPIA.

• A person (requester) wishing to request access to a record of the SARB can do so by:
  
• completing the prescribed form, which form can be obtained from the following sources:
• SARB Deputy Information Officer (See Chapter 2 above);
• the Information Regulator; https://inforegulator.org.za/ and
• paying the prescribed fee(s). A requester who seeks access to a record containing personal information about the requester is, however, not required to pay a request fee.
  

• After the Deputy Information Officer has made a decision on the request, the requester will be notified of such a decision in the manner requested by the requester.
• The requester must indicate whether a copy of the records is required, or if the requester would like to inspect the records at the offices of the SARB.
• Access to the aforesaid record will be granted to the requester in the manner requested, unless such manner would unreasonably interfere with the running and operation of the SARB or damage its records or infringe its copyright.
• If, for practical reasons, access cannot be given in the requested manner, but in an alternative manner, then the fee for access will be calculated according to the manner of access which the requester had initially requested.
• If the requester is unable to read or write, or has a disability, then the requester can make the request for access to the records orally, in which event the Deputy Information Officer will complete the prescribed form on behalf of such requester and provide the requester with such completed form.
• The requester must clearly indicate on the request form:
• if he/she wishes to be informed of the success of his/her request telephonically, in writing or any other manner; and
• the capacity in which the request is made in the event the information is requested on behalf of somebody else (e.g. attorney).
  

• A person (Data Subject as defined in POPIA) wishing to object to the processing of personal information by SARB may do so by:
• completing the prescribed form, which can be obtained from the following sources:
• SARB Group Deputy Information Officer (See Chapter 2 above);
• the Information Regulator’s website; or
• the Information Regulator’s website, https://inforegulator.org.za/ ; and

• Paying the prescribed fee(s), if applicable.
• After the Deputy Information Officer has made a decision on the objection, the data subject will be notified of such a decision in the manner requested by the data subject.
• The data subject must clearly indicate on the objection form:
• if he/she wishes to be informed of the success of his/her objection, in writing or any other manner; and
• the capacity in which the objection is made in the event that the information is objected to on behalf of somebody else (e.g., attorney).

Procedures for correction, deletion or destruction of personal information or record in terms of Section 24(1) of POPIA

• A person (Data Subject as defined in POPIA) wishing to request a correction or deletion of personal information or destruction or deletion of a record of personal information may do so by:
  
• completing the prescribed form, which can be obtained from the following sources:
  
• SARB Group Deputy Information Officer (See Chapter 2 above);
  
• the Information Regulator’s website; or
  
• the Information Regulator’s website, https://inforegulator.org.za/ and
  
• paying the prescribed fee(s), if applicable.
  
• After the Information Officer has made a decision on the correction or deletion of personal information or destruction or deletion of a record of personal information, the data subject will be notified of such a decision in the manner requested by the data subject.
  
• The data subject must clearly indicate on the objection form:
• if he/she wishes to be informed of the success of his/her request, in writing or any other manner; and
• the capacity in which the objection is made is made in the event that the information is objected to on behalf of somebody else (e.g. attorney).

Subjects on which the SARB holds records and the categories of records held on each subject

Described below are the records which the SARB holds, divided into categories, for ease of reference:

Publications

• General information pertaining to the SARB, its mandate and functions
• Public statements, media releases and public reports
• Addresses by governors

Financial Statements

• Annual Financial Report
• Statement of Assets and Liabilities

SARB Shareholding

• General information pertaining to the SARB Shares
• Share Register

Monetary Policy

• General information pertaining to the Monetary Policy and the Monetary Policy Committee
• Monetary Policy Review
• Monetary Policy Operations

Financial Markets

• Treasury Operations
• Reserve Management
• Risk Management
• Market Operations
• Market Research
• Foreign Portfolio Investments
• Markets rates

Bank Supervision (PA)

• Information on the Banking sector of South Africa
• Reports pertaining to investigations or key developments

Foreign Exchange

• Financial Surveillance
• Foreign exchange operations
• Correspondent Banking
• Exchange Control Regulations, Orders and Rules

Public Finances

• Accounting administration and settlement

Payment Systems

• Payment and Settlement Systems
• South African Multiple Option Settlement (SAMOS) System

Bank notes and coin

• South African bank notes
• South African coin
• Gold coins

Financial Stability

• Prudential Regulation
• Financial Stability Review
• Financial Stability Report

Statistics and Economic Reports

• Statistical and Economic Information
• Methodology Statements
• Quarterly Bulletin
• Annual economic reports
• Research Reports
• Market Research

Personal information

• Personal information of employees and data subjects
• Special personal information of employees and data subjects

Deposit Insurance and Resolution

• Information pertaining to deposit insurance and resolution of designated institutions.

Categories of records automatically available

The information below is available from the SARB’s Head Office or on the SARB’s website and can be automatically accessed without having to go through the formal PAIA request process.

•  SARB Publications (All information publicised on the SARB’s website www.resbank.co.za).
• Annual Financial Statements
  
• SARB Shares
  
• Monetary Policy Committee
  
• Economic Statistics
  
• Economic Reports
  
• Market Research
  
• Foreign Exchange
  
• Payment Systems
  
• Bank notes and coin
  

Services available to members of the public

The following services are available to the members of the public.

Payment for mutilated or damaged banknotes. (Members of the public wanting to exchange mutilated banknotes and/or exchange old-series banknotes withdrawn from circulation will no longer be able to access these services at the SARB Head Office due to the construction project. Clients with bank accounts can access the above-mentioned services at the designated branches of commercial banks. Find the list here: https://bit.ly/3SQcN73

Provision of over-the-counter SARB share transaction services (the public can buy shares in the SARB). For enquiries, please contact the Share Transfer Secretary on OTCSTF@resbank.co.za.

Public awareness campaigns (regular media campaigns to alert the public of 419 scams, ponzi schemes and abusive practices). This information can be accessed on the SARB’s website www.resbank.co.za.

Public participation

For the purpose of allowing for public participation in the formulation of policy and exercising of powers of the SARB, the following arrangements are in place:

Prudential Authority

• The Standing Committee for the Revision of the Banks Act caters for the participation of several representative bodies in the formulation of bank regulations.
• The Policy Board for Financial Services and Regulation provides a forum for several representative bodies to provide input into regulatory matters.

National Payment Systems

• Standing Committee for the Review of the National Payment Systems Act 78 of 1998 (NPS Act).
• The Standing Committee was established to review National Payment System (NPS) developments and to ensure that the NPS Act provides the SARB with sufficient regulatory powers to oversee the safety and soundness of the payment system.

Remedies available to requester

• A requester who is aggrieved by a decision of the Information Officer of the SARB to:
  
• Grant access to a request for access; or
  
• taken in terms of sections 22, 26(1) or 29(3) of PAIA, may by way of an application, within 30 days, apply to a Court for appropriate relief in terms of section 82 of PAIA.
  
• The SARB does not have internal review or appeal procedures.

Remedies available to data subject

• A data subject who is aggrieved by a decision of the Information Officer of the SARB:
• after objecting to the processing of personal information; or
  
• relating to a request for correction or deletion of personal information or destruction or deletion of a record of personal information; or
  
• relating to the refusal of a request for access to personal information ‒ may submit a complaint to the Information Regulator in the prescribed manner and form alleging interference with the protection of personal information in terms of section 74(1) of POPIA.
  
• On receipt of the complaint in terms of section 74 of POPIA, the Regulator may conduct an investigation or decide that no action is required or refer the matter to an Enforcement Committee, and in any such event, the Regulator shall inform the complainant and the responsible party to whom the complaint relates of the course of action that the Regulator proposes to adopt.
  

Availability of this manual

Copies of this Manual are available for inspection, free of charge, at the registered offices of the SARB at Irene Link, 13 Impala Avenue, Doringkloof, Centurion, 0157 or can be accessed on SARB’s website on www.resbank.co.za.

Disclaimer

This Manual is considered to be true and correct as at the date of publication, however, changes and updates in the SARB Group’s structure after the time of publication of the Manual may impact upon the accuracy and reliability of the Manual.

POPIA Manuals

English click here

Zulu click here

Afrikaans click here