Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how The Feed SA ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and protects information when you visit thefeedsa.co.za (the "Site"). We are committed to handling any information responsibly and in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and other applicable South African privacy law.
By using the Site you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.
1. Information We Collect
Information collected automatically
When you visit the Site, our web server and infrastructure automatically record standard technical information, including:
- Your IP address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Date and time of your visit
- The URL you came from (referrer)
This information is recorded in server access logs for security, performance monitoring, and abuse prevention purposes. It is not used to identify you personally.
Cookies and similar technologies
The Site may use cookies or similar browser-storage mechanisms in the following limited circumstances:
- Session cookies — used to keep authorised users (site administrators) logged in during a session. These are essential and cannot be disabled without breaking login functionality.
- Analytics cookies — if Google Analytics is enabled (see section 4), Google sets cookies to measure aggregate site usage. No personally identifiable information is shared with Google through this mechanism.
We do not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or third-party behavioural profiling tools.
Information you provide voluntarily
The public-facing Site does not require registration or any form submission. If you contact us by email, we will retain your email address and message content only for the purpose of responding to your enquiry.
2. How We Use Information
We use the information described above only for the following purposes:
- Operating and maintaining the Site
- Monitoring and improving Site performance and security
- Investigating and preventing abuse or unauthorised access
- Responding to enquiries or takedown requests sent to us by email
- Measuring aggregate, anonymised traffic patterns (analytics)
We do not use your information for direct marketing, profiling, automated decision-making, or any purpose incompatible with those listed above.
3. Information We Do Not Collect
To be explicit, we do not collect:
- Your name, physical address, phone number, or any identity document details
- Payment or financial information
- Location data beyond what is implied by an IP address
- Social media account details or linked profile data
- Any special personal information as defined under POPIA (health, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.)
4. Google Analytics
The Site may use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC. If enabled, Google Analytics collects information about your use of the Site — such as pages viewed and time on site — using cookies. This data is aggregated and anonymised; it does not identify you personally.
Google's use of this data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
If Google Analytics is not configured on this deployment, no analytics data is collected.
5. Third-Party Content and Links
The Site aggregates and links to articles published by third-party South African news sources. When you click a link to an external site, you leave our Site and that site's own privacy policy applies. We have no control over third-party data practices and accept no responsibility for them.
The Site also publishes content to Facebook and Instagram. Any interaction you have with those platforms is governed by Meta's own privacy policies.
6. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party.
We may disclose information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Legal obligation: if required to do so by a court order, subpoena, or applicable law
- Protection of rights: to protect the safety, rights, or property of The Feed SA, its users, or the public
- Service providers: we use DigitalOcean to host the Site; server infrastructure therefore processes technical log data on our behalf under their own privacy and security commitments
7. Data Retention
Server access logs are retained for a limited period for security purposes and are not actively processed for individual user profiling. Email correspondence is retained only as long as necessary to resolve the relevant matter.
We do not retain any personal information beyond what is necessary for the purposes described in this policy.
8. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect the Site and any information processed through it. The Site is served exclusively over HTTPS (TLS encryption in transit). Access to the administrative interface is restricted by authentication.
No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your Rights Under POPIA
As a data subject under POPIA you have the right to:
- Request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you
- Request access to that personal information
- Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or unlawfully processed personal information
- Object to the processing of your personal information
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at editor@thefeedsa.co.za. We will respond within a reasonable time and in accordance with POPIA.
Information Regulator contact details:
Website: inforegulator.org.za
Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
10. Children's Privacy
The Site is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
12. Contact and Information Officer
Under POPIA, the responsible party for personal information processed through this Site is:
The Feed SA
Email: editor@thefeedsa.co.za
Website: thefeedsa.co.za
For any privacy-related queries, requests, or complaints, please contact us at the address above.