Privacy Policy
Stokvel Embers processes personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”). Questions? info@stokvelembers.co.za
Our privacy promise
We respect your privacy and the trust you place in us when you read, share, or engage with Stokvel Embers. In line with POPIA, we commit to:
- Lawfulness and fairness. We only collect and use personal information for clear, legitimate purposes and where the law allows.
- Transparency. We tell you what we collect, why we use it, and how you can exercise your rights - as set out in this policy.
- Minimisation. We collect only what we reasonably need to run the platform, communicate with you, and improve the experience.
- Security. We take appropriate technical and organisational steps to protect personal information against loss, misuse, and unauthorised access.
- Your control. You may ask to access, correct, or delete your information and, where processing is based on consent, withdraw that consent. We will respond in line with POPIA.
1. Who we are
Stokvel Embers operates this website and related services. For POPIA purposes, we are the responsible party determining why and how your personal information is processed.
Contact: info@stokvelembers.co.za
2. What personal information we collect
Depending on how you use the site, we may process:
- Newsletter: email address when you subscribe (and related subscription status in our systems).
- Contact and submissions: name, email, and any content you voluntarily provide via contact forms, story submissions, comments, or similar.
- Editor accounts: authentication-related data needed to secure dashboard access (for example, session identifiers stored in an HTTP-only cookie after you sign in).
- Reading and engagement: technical data such as IP address (or a derived identifier) when you view or interact with posts, so we can measure engagement and prevent abuse. This is stored in line with our infrastructure and retention practices.
- Technical logs: standard server or application data (e.g. timestamps, request metadata) needed for security, troubleshooting, and service reliability.
3. Why we process it (purpose) and lawful basis
We process personal information to:
- Provide and improve the website, content, and user experience
- Send newsletters and operational communications where you have subscribed or agreed
- Respond to enquiries and manage submissions you send us
- Authenticate editors and protect admin areas
- Understand aggregate engagement with stories (without selling your data as a business model)
- Comply with law and protect our rights, users, and the public
Under POPIA, we rely on appropriate grounds such as your consent (e.g. newsletter, optional submissions), performance of a contract or steps at your request, legitimate interests (e.g. security, fraud prevention, limited analytics compatible with your expectations), and legal obligation where applicable. Where consent is required, you may withdraw it; withdrawal may limit certain features (e.g. newsletter delivery).
4. Cookies, advertising, and third parties
We use cookies and similar technologies where needed for core functionality (for example, keeping editors signed in via a session cookie).
Where Google AdSense (or similar advertising) is enabled on the site, Google may use cookies and process data as described in Google's policies. You can read more in Google's Privacy Policy and manage ad personalisation through your Google account or device settings where available.
5. Sharing and operators
We do not sell your personal information. We may share it with trusted service providers who help us host the site, send email, or analyse traffic - only to the extent needed for their service and under appropriate safeguards. Some providers may be located outside South Africa; where personal information is transferred across borders, we take steps consistent with POPIA (including ensuring an adequate level of protection or your consent where required).
6. Retention
We keep personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes above, unless a longer period is required by law. Newsletter data is kept until you unsubscribe or we remove inactive lists; technical and engagement data may be retained for shorter periods or aggregated where appropriate.
7. Security
We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information. No online service can be guaranteed 100% secure; please use strong passwords for any account and contact us if you suspect misuse.
8. Your rights under POPIA
You have the right, subject to POPIA and any exceptions, to:
- Ask whether we hold personal information about you and request access to it
- Request correction or updating of inaccurate information
- Request deletion or restriction of processing where the law allows
- Object to processing based on legitimate interests in certain circumstances
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator
To exercise these rights, email info@stokvelembers.co.za. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.
The Information Regulator of South Africa can be contacted regarding complaints: see inforegulator.org.za for current contact details and guidance.
9. Children
Our platform is not directed at children without appropriate parental involvement. If you believe we have collected a child's personal information improperly, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be published on this page; material changes may be highlighted where appropriate.
11. Related documents
Our Terms & Conditions include additional provisions on user content and processing. This policy and those terms should be read together.