FIFA’s local organising committee must give the Mail & Guardian newspaper all its records in respect of tenders it has awarded relating to the World Cup, within 30 days of payment by the newspaper of the “prescribed charges” for compiling the documents, a court ordered yesterday.

Apart from what may be revealed about the tenders, the judgment is significant in that it shows that nongovernmental bodies, such as the local organising committee , can be held accountable in terms of access to information laws. Johannesburg High Court acting Judge Les Morison said refusing access to these records would enable the cup’s organiser to “keep from the public eye documents which may disclose corruption (or) incompetence” in the organisation of the event.

The newspaper applied for access to the documents in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

 http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=111289