PRIVACY POLICY PAGE

Last Updated: 9 October 2025

Introduction and POPIA Compliance

Douglas Connect (“the Website,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is collected and used appropriately, lawfully, and transparently. We operate in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) of the Republic of South Africa.

This policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and secure the personal information of our website visitors and the service providers listed in our directory.

1. Information Officer and Contact Details

In terms of POPIA, we are the responsible party for processing your personal information.

Information Officer: Dawone Moss

Email Address: dieglas.net@gmail.com

Physical Address: 648 Populier Avenue

2. Collection of Personal Information

We collect two main categories of information:

A. Service Provider (Directory) Information
This is information provided by service providers for the express purpose of being listed in the directory. This information is collected only with the explicit consent of the service provider, as documented in a signed Consent Form.

B. Website Visitor Information
This includes information collected automatically when you browse the Website:
Cookies/Analytics:
Basic, non-personally identifiable data such as IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited.
Purpose: To monitor website performance, analyse traffic, and improve the user experience.

3. Use of Personal Information

The personal information of service providers is used solely for the following purpose:
To publish it publicly on the dieglas.net directory to allow community members to connect directly with the listed service providers.
We will never use this information for unsolicited marketing, sell it to third parties, or use it for any purpose other than that for which consent was specifically given, unless required by South African law.

4. Disclosure of Personal Information

Public Display: All Service Provider Information (Name, Contact Details, Address) is intended to be publicly disclosed on the Website as part of the directory service. By signing the Consent Form, the provider accepts and acknowledges this public disclosure.

Third-Party Providers: We may use third-party services (like website hosting or analytics) that may have access to basic visitor data (non-POPIA relevant) but will not have access to private Service Provider data (like the signed consent forms).

5. Security and Storage

We are committed to securing the data we hold. We take reasonable, technical, and organisational steps to protect personal information against loss, unauthorized access, destruction, or disclosure.

Public Data: Information published on the Website is inherently public.

Private Data: Signed Consent Forms and any private contact information are stored securely, [e.g., “in a password-protected electronic folder” or “secure physical location”].

6. Retention of Information

We will retain Service Provider Information for as long as the service provider is listed on the dieglas.net directory.

Removal Request: If a service provider requests removal, we will take all reasonable steps to delete their public listing and securely archive their signed Consent Form (or securely delete it, depending on your business retention policy) within a reasonable timeframe, unless we are legally required to keep it.

7. Your Rights as a Data Subject (POPIA Rights)

Under POPIA, any person whose information we hold (a “Data Subject”) has the right to:

Be Informed: Be informed that we are collecting personal information (which this policy fulfils).

Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about them.

Correction/Deletion: Request the correction or deletion of their personal information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, or excessive.

Object: Object to the processing of their personal information (e.g., if they no longer want to be listed).

Complain: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if they believe their rights have been infringed.

Contact Us: To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer via the email address listed in Section 1.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Douglas Connect may use cookies (small text files) to enhance user experience. You can choose to accept or decline cookies in your browser settings. Declining cookies may limit some functionality of the Website.

9. Changes to this Policy

We reserve the right to amend this Privacy Policy at any time. All amendments will be posted on this page and will take effect immediately upon posting. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.