POPIA Compliance

Gauteng News Hub is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA), South Africa’s primary data protection law. This page explains how we comply with POPIA and how you can exercise your rights under the law.

Scope and Applicability

Although Gauteng News Hub does not require user registration or maintain a database of personal information, we may collect limited personal data through automated means such as web analytics, server logs, and cookies. This data is collected solely for the purpose of improving website functionality and understanding audience engagement. POPIA applies to this limited processing activity.

Your Rights Under POPIA

Under POPIA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to access: Request confirmation of whether we hold your personal information and to receive a copy of it.
• Right to correction: Request correction of inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, or outdated personal information.
• Right to deletion: Request deletion of your personal information when it is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected.
• Right to object: Object to the processing of your personal information, including for direct marketing or analytics purposes.
• Right to data portability: Request your personal information in a structured, commonly used format where technically feasible.

How We Comply

We comply with POPIA by:

• Collecting only the minimum personal information necessary for website analytics and operational purposes.
• Using anonymized or aggregated data wherever possible.
• Implementing technical and organizational measures to protect data from unauthorized access or loss.
• Not selling, sharing, or transferring personal information to third parties without your consent.
• Regularly reviewing our data practices to ensure ongoing compliance.

Data We Process

The personal information we may process includes:

• IP addresses (anonymized where possible)
• Browser type and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on site
• Cookie identifiers (for session and preference tracking)

All data is processed anonymously where feasible and retained only for as long as necessary for statistical analysis.

Legal Basis for Processing

Our processing of personal information is based on our legitimate interest in improving website performance and user experience, as permitted under POPIA Section 11. We do not process sensitive personal information, and we always aim to minimize data collection.

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of your rights under POPIA, please contact us at the email address below. Include your full name, contact details, and a clear description of your request. We may ask for additional information to verify your identity.

Response Timeframes

We will respond to your request within 20 business days, as required by POPIA. If we need more time, we will notify you in writing with the reason for the delay and the new response date.

No Discrimination Policy

You will not be denied access to our content, services, or features, nor will we treat you unfairly, for exercising your rights under POPIA.

Updates and Changes

We may update this compliance page from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in POPIA. Any material changes will be posted here with an updated effective date.

Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or wish to exercise your rights under POPIA, please contact our data protection officer:

Elijah Blackwood
i>Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) Compliance Officer
Email: [email protected]
Address: Van Riebeeck Hall Flatland, Campo Mar Village, Anzio Rd, Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7925, South Africa

You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your rights have been violated.