Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No. 3 of 2000)4. Administrative action affecting public |
| 1) | In cases where an administrative action materially and adversely affects the rights of the public, an administrator, in order to give effect to the right to procedurally fair administrative action, must decide whether- |
| a) | to hold a public inquiry in terms of subsection (2); |
| b) | to follow a notice and comment procedure in terms of subsection (3); |
| c) | to follow the procedures in both subsections (2) and (3); |
| d) | where the administrator is empowered by any empowering provision to follow a procedure which is fair but different, to follow that procedure; or |
| e) | to follow another appropriate procedure which gives effect to section 3. |
| 2) | If an administrator decides to hold a public inquiry- |
| a) | the administrator must conduct the public inquiry or appoint a suitably qualified person or panel of persons to do so; and |
| b) | the administrator or the person or panel referred to in paragraph (a) must- |
| i) | determine the procedure for the public inquiry, which must- |
| aa) | include a public hearing; and |
| bb) | comply with the procedures to be followed in connection with public inquiries, as prescribed; |
| ii) | conduct the inquiry in accordance with that procedure; |
| iii) | compile a written report on the inquiry and give reasons for any administrative action taken or recommended; and |
| iv) | as soon as possible thereafter- |
| aa) | publish in English and in at least one of the other official languages in the Gazette or relevant provincial Gazette a notice containing a concise summary of any report and the particulars of the places and times at which the report may be inspected and copied; and |
| bb) | convey by such other means of communication which the administrator considers effective, the information referred to in item (aa) to the public concerned. |
| 3) | If an administrator decides to follow a notice and comment procedure, the administrator must- |
| a) | take appropriate steps to communicate the administrative action to those likely to be materially and adversely affected by it and call for comments from them; |
| b) | consider any comments received; |
| c) | decide whether or not to take the administrative action, with or without changes; and |
| d) | comply with the procedures to be followed in connection with notice and comment procedures, as prescribed. |
| 4) |
| a) | If it is reasonable and justifiable in the circumstances, an administrator may depart from the requirements referred to in subsections (1)(a) to (e), (2) and (3). |
| b) | In determining whether a departure as contemplated in paragraph (a) is reasonable and justifiable, an administrator must take into account all relevant factors, including- |
| i) | the objects of the empowering provision; |
| ii) | the nature and purpose of, and the need to take, the administrative action; |
| iii) | the likely effect of the administrative action; |
| iv) | the urgency of taking the administrative action or the urgency of the matter; and |
| v) | the need to promote an efficient administration and good governance. |