Implementing financial disclosure in local government: Public access to information

This policy brief addresses the issue of public access to financial disclosure information.

This policy brief is the second in a four-part series designed to assist municipal staff and elected councillors in South Africa manage and detect conflicts of interests in public life. The purpose of the series is to support effective implementation of financial disclosure regulations by reflecting on institutional good practice, lessons learnt, and providing practical advice and recommendations.

This policy brief addresses the issue of public access to financial disclosure information, and discusses why public access is critical to monitoring and oversight of potential conflicts of interests in South Africa. It also outlines the key legislative requirements for access to information, and advises on the major challenges that citizens face when trying to access the financial disclosure records of their councillors. Finally, the policy brief offers practical steps that municipalities can adopt to ensure that they uphold the principles of openness and transparency.

Authors: Shireen Mukadam, Collette Schulz-Herzenberg and Jamy Felton