POPIA Compliance

Urban Agriculture Africa News 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 outlines your rights as a data subject.

Scope and Applicability

Although Urban Agriculture Africa News does not require users to register or maintain a database of personal information, we may collect limited personal data automatically through website analytics, server logs, and cookies. This includes IP addresses, browser types, and usage patterns. POPIA applies to this limited processing as we act as a Responsible Party under the Act.

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 personal information
• Right to request deletion of your personal information where there is no legal basis to retain it
• Right to object to processing of your personal information
• Right to data portability in structured, commonly used formats

How We Comply

We comply with POPIA by:

• Minimizing data collection to only what is necessary for website functionality and analytics
• Using anonymized data wherever possible
• Ensuring all third-party service providers (e.g., analytics platforms) are POPIA-compliant
• Implementing reasonable technical and organizational security measures
• Not retaining personal data longer than necessary

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

This data is collected solely for analytical purposes to improve user experience and is not linked to identifiable individuals beyond what is technically unavoidable.

Legal Basis for Processing

Our processing of personal information is based on legitimate interest under Section 11 of POPIA, specifically to:

• Maintain and improve website functionality
• Understand user engagement with our content
• Ensure website security and performance

We do not process sensitive personal information as defined under POPIA.

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 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 30 days of receipt, as required by POPIA. If additional time is needed, we will notify you in writing with the reason and expected response date.

No Discrimination Policy

We will not deny you access to our content, charge you different rates, or provide a different level of service because you exercised your rights under POPIA.

Updates and Changes

We may update this compliance page periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The most recent version will always be posted here with an updated effective date.

Contact Information

For any questions, requests, or complaints regarding your personal information under POPIA, please contact:

Elara Whitfield
24 Dixter Road, Sandton, 2191
Johannesburg, South Africa
Email: [email protected]

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