POPIA Compliance
Ovio News Africa 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 as a data subject.
Scope and Applicability
Although Ovio News Africa does not require user registration or maintain a database of personal information, we may automatically collect limited personal data through website interactions, including IP addresses, browser types, and usage patterns via analytics tools and cookies. This data is collected solely for website functionality, traffic analysis, and improving user experience. POPIA applies to this limited processing activity.
Your Rights Under POPIA
Under POPIA, you have the following rights:
- Right to access your personal information held by us
- Right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Right to request deletion of your personal information
- Right to object to processing of your data
- Right to data portability where technically feasible
- Right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator
How We Comply
We comply with POPIA by:
- Collecting only necessary data for legitimate purposes
- Not storing personal data longer than required
- Implementing reasonable security measures to protect data
- Not selling or sharing personal information with third parties for marketing
- Providing transparent information about data practices
Data We Process
The personal information we may process includes:
- IP addresses
- Browser and device information
- Pages visited and time spent on site
- Cookie identifiers (for analytics)
This data is anonymized where possible and is not linked to identifiable individuals beyond technical necessity.
Legal Basis for Processing
Our processing of personal information is based on legitimate interest under POPIA Section 11(3), specifically to ensure website functionality, improve content delivery, and analyze audience trends for public interest journalism. We do not rely on consent for this limited processing.
How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of your rights under POPIA, please contact us via email at [email protected] with the subject line: "POPIA Request". Include:
- Your full name
- Details of the information you wish to access, correct, or delete
- Any supporting information to help us locate your data
We will respond without undue delay and within 30 days.
Response Timeframes
Under POPIA, we are required to respond to your request within 30 days. If additional time is needed, we will notify you in writing with reasons for the delay. All requests are processed free of charge.
No Discrimination Policy
You will not be denied access to our content, services, or features, nor will we treat you unfairly, because you have exercised your rights under POPIA.
Updates and Changes
We may update this compliance page from time to time to reflect changes in POPIA or our data practices. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or wish to lodge a complaint regarding our compliance with POPIA, please contact:
Lara Whitfield
103 Long Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Email: [email protected]
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/
