Privacy Policy

Softhost, a trading division of Softkings IT Solutions (Pty) Ltd, is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a responsible manner in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our website, services, or interact with us in any way.

By using our services or providing us with your personal information, you consent to the processing of your information as described in this policy.

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• ›To provide, manage, and maintain our services.
• ›To process payments and manage your billing account.
• ›To communicate with you regarding your account and services.
• ›To send service notifications, invoices, and important updates.
• ›To respond to support requests and enquiries.
• ›To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
• ›To improve our services, website, and customer experience.
• ›To detect and prevent fraud or misuse of our services.

We will not use your personal information for purposes other than those listed above without your prior consent, unless required by law.

We process your personal information on the following legal grounds under POPIA:

• › Consent: Where you have provided explicit consent for a specific purpose.
• › Contractual necessity: Where processing is necessary to fulfil a service agreement with you.
• › Legal obligation: Where we are required to process data to comply with applicable law.
• › Legitimate interest: Where processing serves a legitimate business interest that does not override your rights.

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information with:

• ›Service providers and suppliers who assist us in delivering our services (e.g. payment processors, network providers).
• ›Regulatory authorities, law enforcement, or courts where required by law.
• ›Our professional advisors such as accountants and legal counsel.
• ›A successor entity in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

All third parties are required to handle your information in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law.

• ›Account and billing records are retained for a minimum of 5 years in compliance with South African tax and financial regulations.
• ›Support and communication records are retained for 2 years after last interaction.
• ›Technical logs may be retained for up to 12 months for security and diagnostic purposes.

When personal information is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies may be used to:

• ›Remember your preferences and settings.
• ›Analyse website traffic and usage patterns.
• ›Improve website performance and functionality.
• ›Deliver relevant content and service information.

You may control cookie settings through your browser. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of our website.

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, loss, alteration, or disclosure. These include:

• ›Encrypted data transmission using SSL/TLS protocols.
• ›Secure data storage with access controls.
• ›Regular security assessments and monitoring.
• ›Staff training on data protection and privacy.

While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external websites you visit.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updated versions will be published on our website with a revised effective date.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact our Information Officer:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa at www.inforegulator.org.za.