The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act has been signed into law. It was signed by the President on 19 November and published in the Government Gazette on 26 November 2013.

The commencement date has not yet been proclaimed. Parties will have a one year grace period from the commencement date to ensure compliance with the provisions of POPI, unless this grace period is extended as allowed by the Act.

POPI will have significant and far reaching consequences for all companies and businesses that process personal information of individuals or of juristic persons (such as other companies, close corporations, trusts and the like). This will impact all companies and businesses that process information relating to employees, customers, suppliers and other third parties.

Even though there will be a grace period of 12 months, we strongly advise all companies and businesses to immediately start taking steps to ensure that they are compliant with POPI by the end of the grace period. Compliance with POPI will be complex, time-consuming and will require careful planning and the allocation of considerable resources.

Webber Wentzel will be distributing various checklists and other material to assist our clients with POPI compliance.

We will also be holding several seminars on POPI next year.

To access previous snapshots regarding POPI, click here.

Click here to read the POPI Act.

Written by Robby Coelho and Esti Louw, Webber Wentzel