INTRODUCTION TO THE Evangelische Stadtmission in Southern Africa (ESSA)

ORIGIN AND NAME

Evangelische Stadtmission in Southern Africa (ESSA), hereafter referred to as the ESSA, was founded by Pilgermission St.Chrischona, Bettingen (Switzerland) in 1966 and was constituted as a church in 1968, reaching mainly the German-speaking community.

Within the ESSA there are 4 congregations in South Africa and 2 congregations in Namibia.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose and objectives of the Church and its Congregations are according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15):

• The preaching and teaching of the Word of God according to the scriptures of the Old and New Testament.
• The unification and incorporation of the believers.
• The nurturing, discipleship and training of the believers.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The faith of the ESSA and its Congregations is based on the belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit in all its statements and is authoritative in all matters concerning the teachings, beliefs, and practices in the Congregations. The Congregation and its members confess their belief according to the Apostolic Creed and as stated in the Rules and Regulations of the Congregation.

AVAILABILITY OF THIS MANUAL

A copy of this Manual is available by sending a request for a copy to the Information Officer by email. The Manual may also be obtained from the South African Human Rights Commission (“SAHRC”) at the addresses set out below. This Manual will be updated from time to time, as and when required.

HOW TO REQUEST ACCESS TO RECORDS HELD BY THE ESSA

Requests for access to records held by the ESSA must be made on the request form that is available on our website, from the SAHRC website (www.sahrc.org.za) or the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (www.doj.gov.za) (under “regulations”). Note that requests need not be accompanied by payment, BUT will only be processed upon payment of the prescribed fees.

Requests for access to records must be made to our Information Officer at the address, electronic mail address provided for below.

The requester must provide sufficient detail on the request form to enable the Information Officer to identify the record and the requester. The requester should also indicate which form of access is required and indicate if he or she wishes to be informed in any other manner and state the necessary particulars to be so informed.

The requester must identify the right that he or she is seeking to exercise or protect and provide an explanation of why the requested record is required for the exercise or protection of that right. If a request is made on behalf of a person, the requester must then submit proof of the capacity in which the requester is making the request to the satisfaction of the Information Officer of the ESSA.

The standard form that must be used for the making of requests is attached as Attachment 1. Not using this form could cause your request to be refused (if you do not provide sufficient information or otherwise) or delayed.

Kindly note that all requests to the ESSA will be evaluated and considered in accordance with the Act. Publication of this manual and describing the categories and subject matter of information held by ESSA does not give rise to any rights (in contract or otherwise) to access such information or records except in terms of the Act.

PARTICULARS IN TERMS OF THE SECTION 51 MANUAL

Contact Details

The head of the body for purposes of this manual is the treasurer Erik Andreae of the ESSA

who may be contacted at –

Postal Address:  P.O. Box 90787, Garsfontein, 0042, Pretoria, Gauteng
Street Address:  266 Serene Street, Garsfontein, 0042, Pretoria, Gauteng
Telephone Number:  021 348 3992
Fax Number:  021 348 3992
Email address:  treasurer@treasurer.org.za

THE SECTION 10 GUIDE ON HOW TO USE AND ACCESS THE ACT

The ESSA does not currently have a hard copy of this guide, as produced by the South African Human Rights Commission. However, an electronic version of the Guide can be accessed at:

https://www.sahrc.org.za/home/21/files/Section 10 guide 2014.pdf

For a hard copy of the guide and for any further information on how the requester can get access to the Guide other than through the link provided above, please contact :-

South African Human Rights Commission

PAIA Unit
The Research & Documentation Department
Postal Address: Private Bag 2700
Houghton
2041
Telephone: +27 11 484-8300
Fax: +27 11 484-0582
Website: www.sahrc.org.za
e-Mail: PAIA@sahrc.org.za

VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE

The ESSA has not published a notice in terms of Section 52(2) of the Act; however, it should be noted that the information relating to ESSA and its services is freely available on the ESSA website. Certain other information relating to ESSA is also made available on such website from time to time. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF ANY OTHER LEGISLATION

Accounting Records

Annual financial statements

Fixed Property

Title Deed

Information Technology

Various Service Level Agreements [SLA]
Telephone lines, leased lines and data lines

Insurance

Insurance Policy
Claims records

Personnel Records

Salary slips
UIF, PAYE
Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997
Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Health Diseases Act 130 of 1993
Unemployment Contributions Act 4 of 2002
Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001

Member Records

Please be aware that the ESSA is very concerned about protecting the confidential information of its members. Please motivate any request for member information very carefully, having regard to Sections 63 to 67 of the Act

Member records include the following:

Personal records of members
Any records a member has provided to the ESSA or a third party acting for or on behalf of the ESSA.

Statutory Business Records

Constitution
Resolutions
Letters of Authority [signing powers – who signs what]
Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000

Tax

Income Tax returns
Tax Assessments
Income Tax Act No.58 of 1962

Other Parties

Records that are kept in respect of other parties, including without limitation contractors, suppliers, service providers. In addition, such other parties may possess records, which can be said to belong to the ESSA.

The following records fall under this category:

Personnel, members or ESSA records which are held by another party as opposed to being held by ESSA; and;
Records held by the ESSA pertaining to other parties, including financial records, correspondence, electronic mail, logs, cached information, records provided by the other party, and records third parties have provided about the contractors/suppliers or members.

ACCESS TO PRESCRIBED FORM

Request for access to information: Prescribed-Request-Form-ESSA.pdf