Investigating the Usage of Public Information System at Communities: Case Study of Previously Disadvantaged Low-income Cape Town Communities

The implementation of Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA, 2000), by the SouthAfrican government in the public domain gave effect to ?the constitutional right of access to anyinformation held by the state and any information that is held by another person and that isrequired for the exercise or protection of any rights; and to provide for matters connectedtherewith? (Arthur, 2007). The government requires every public and private organization toprovide access to information users manual document as contemplated by section 14 of the PAIAof 2000 for the facilitation of easy access, affordable, relevant and understandable information tothe public. Despite the effort, lower?income communities at Cape Town informal settlements haslimited understanding of where to go or who to contact when it comes to submitting requests foraccess to spatial information to the City of Cape Town Council and to publicly report locale areaproblems.