Privacy Policy

1. Definitions

For the purposes of this Policy:

• “Personal Information” means information that can identify you as an individual, as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).
• “Processing” means any operation performed on personal information, such as collection, storage, use, disclosure, or deletion.
• “Responsible Party” refers to the Pondoland Conservation Trust, which determines the purpose and means of processing personal information.
• “You” / “Your” means any person who visits our Website, donates to the Trust, subscribes to updates, or interacts with us in any way.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal information directly from you when you:

• Sign up for newsletters or updates;
• Make a donation or pledge support;
• Submit an enquiry or contact form; or
• Participate in Trust programmes, campaigns, or events.

The personal information we may collect includes your:

• Name and surname;
• Contact details (email address, phone number, postal address);
• Payment or donation details (where applicable);
• Communication preferences; and
• Any additional information you voluntarily provide.

We may also collect limited usage data automatically through cookies and analytics tools to understand how our Website is used and to improve user experience.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal information to:

• Communicate with you and respond to your enquiries;
• Process and acknowledge donations;
• Keep you informed about our conservation work, news, and events (where you have opted in);
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations; and
• Improve the functionality and content of our Website.

We will only process your personal information for lawful purposes and where you have provided consent or where processing is necessary for legitimate organisational interests.

4. Sharing of Personal Information

We respect your privacy and will not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

Your personal information may be shared only with:

• Trusted service providers who assist us with website hosting, payment processing, analytics, or communications — and who are bound by strict confidentiality and data protection obligations;
• Regulatory authorities or law enforcement, if required by law; and
• Affiliated partners or collaborators where necessary for conservation-related projects, provided adequate data protection safeguards are in place.

We ensure all third parties who process personal information on our behalf comply with POPIA and use such information only for authorised purposes.

5. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected or to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. When information is no longer needed, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

6. Security of Personal Information

We apply appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational safeguards to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction — in line with Section 19 of POPIA.

7. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our Website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to help us understand how visitors use our site.

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our Website. We use:

• Essential cookies to ensure proper website functionality;
• Analytics cookies to understand website performance and improve content; and
• Preference cookies to remember your settings for future visits.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, though some parts of the Website may not function correctly without them.

We may also use analytics services (such as Google Analytics) that collect non-identifiable data about website usage.

We do not currently respond to “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals due to the absence of an industry standard, but we continue to monitor developments in this area.

8. Your Rights

Under POPIA, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you;
• Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or outdated information;
• Withdraw consent for communications or processing; and
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights have been violated.

Requests can be made by contacting us at info@pondotrust.com

9. Updates to this Policy

This Policy may be reviewed and updated from time to time to reflect changes in law, operations, or technology. Any significant updates will be communicated on this page, and the effective date will be revised accordingly.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us at:

Email: info@pondotrust.com
Postal Address: c/o Wild Child Africa, 8 Trickett Lane, Greendale Park, Howick, South Africa