Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

RehabNews Africa ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), the associated POPIA Regulations, and internationally recognised privacy principles including those reflected in the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and what rights you have as a data subject.

This policy applies to all visitors and users of rehabnews.co.za and any sub-domains, regardless of your country of residence. By accessing this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

2. Definitions (POPIA Section 1)

The following terms carry the meanings assigned to them in POPIA and are used throughout this document:

3. Personal Information We Collect

We collect only the minimum personal information necessary to operate this website and deliver relevant content. The categories of information collected are as follows:

3.1 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit RehabNews Africa, our servers and analytics tools automatically collect certain technical information. This includes your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, time spent on pages, and the date and time of your visit. This information is collected in aggregate and is used solely to understand how visitors use the site and to improve content relevance.

3.2 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies as described in our Cookie Policy. You may manage your cookie preferences at any time using the consent banner displayed on your first visit, or by adjusting your browser settings. Refusing non-essential cookies will not affect your ability to access the content on this website.

3.3 Information You Voluntarily Provide

If you contact us via email or any contact form, we will collect your name, email address, and the content of your message. This information is used solely to respond to your enquiry and is not added to any marketing list without your explicit consent.

3.4 Information We Do Not Collect

RehabNews Africa does not collect payment information, government identification numbers, medical records, or any special personal information as defined under POPIA Section 26. We do not operate a user registration system and do not require you to create an account to access any content on this website.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing (POPIA Condition 2)

All processing of personal information by RehabNews Africa is conducted on one or more of the following lawful grounds:

5. How We Use Your Information

Personal information collected by RehabNews Africa is used exclusively for the following purposes: to operate and improve the website; to analyse traffic patterns and content performance; to respond to enquiries submitted by users; to comply with legal obligations; and to detect and prevent fraudulent or malicious activity. We do not use personal information for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects on data subjects.

6. Third-Party Disclosure and Operators

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share limited technical data with the following categories of service providers (Operators) who process data on our behalf under binding data processing agreements:

All Operators are contractually required to process personal information only on our documented instructions, to implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures, and to delete or return personal information upon termination of the service relationship.

7. Cross-Border Transfers (POPIA Section 72)

RehabNews Africa is operated from the United States. If you are located in South Africa or the European Economic Area, your personal information may be transferred to and processed in the United States. Such transfers are conducted in accordance with POPIA Section 72, which permits cross-border transfers where the recipient country provides an adequate level of protection, or where appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses) are in place. By using this website, you acknowledge and consent to this transfer.

8. Data Retention (POPIA Condition 5)

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Server logs are retained for a maximum of 90 days. Contact enquiry records are retained for 12 months from the date of last correspondence. Analytics data is retained in anonymised, aggregated form indefinitely. Upon expiry of the applicable retention period, personal information is securely deleted or anonymised.

9. Security Measures (POPIA Condition 7)

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data in transit, access controls limiting data access to authorised personnel only, regular security reviews of our infrastructure, and contractual security obligations imposed on all Operators. In the event of a personal information breach that poses a real risk of harm to data subjects, we will notify the Information Regulator and affected data subjects in accordance with POPIA Section 22.

10. Your Rights as a Data Subject (POPIA Chapter 2, Part A)

As a data subject, you have the following rights under POPIA, which you may exercise at any time by contacting us at [email protected]:

We will respond to all verified data subject requests within 30 days of receipt. Complex requests may be extended by a further 30 days with notice to you.

11. Information Regulator of South Africa

If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy complaint, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa:

12. Children's Privacy

RehabNews Africa is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe that a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at [email protected] and we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the website following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

14. Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal information, please contact our Information Officer: