Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 6, 2026

1. Responsible Party

In terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), the responsible party for the processing of your personal information is:

Legal Name: Prickly Pear Innotech (Pty) Ltd trading as Prickly Pear Engineering

Registration Number: 2019/095715/07

Information Officer

Name: Franco Marius Fourie (Director)

Email: info@PricklyPearEngineering.com

Phone: +27 63 689 4585

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you contact us through our website, we may collect personal information including but not limited to: your name, email address, phone number, company name, and any information you provide in your messages or inquiries. This information is collected directly from you.

Technical Information

We automatically collect certain information about your visit to our website, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, approximate location (city, region, country), Internet Service Provider (ISP), and whether you are using a proxy, VPN, or hosting provider.

Voluntary or Mandatory

Providing personal information through our contact form is voluntary. However, if you choose not to provide certain information, we may not be able to respond to your inquiry or provide our services.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

In terms of Section 9 of POPIA, we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

  • Consent: When you voluntarily submit your information through our contact form or sign up for communications
  • Contract: When processing is necessary to conclude or perform a contract for our services
  • Legitimate Interest: When we have a legitimate business interest that does not override your rights, such as improving our services and website security
  • Legal Obligation: When we are required to process information to comply with South African law
4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Respond to your inquiries and provide customer service
  • Provide information about our services
  • Process and fulfill service requests
  • Send you updates about our services (with your consent)
  • Improve our website and services
  • Ensure website security and prevent fraud
  • Comply with legal obligations
5. Direct Marketing

In terms of Section 69 of POPIA, we will only send you direct marketing communications via electronic means (email, SMS) if:

  • You have given us your prior consent to receive such communications; or
  • You are an existing client and the marketing relates to similar services you have previously enquired about or used

Every marketing communication will include a clear and easy way to opt out. You can also contact us at any time to unsubscribe from marketing communications.

6. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties except in the following circumstances:

  • With your explicit consent
  • To comply with legal obligations or respond to lawful requests from South African authorities
  • To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of others
  • With trusted service providers who assist us in operating our website and conducting business, subject to appropriate data processing agreements
7. Cross-Border Transfers

Some of our service providers (such as website hosting and analytics services) may be located outside South Africa. In terms of Section 72 of POPIA, we will only transfer your personal information to countries that have adequate data protection laws, or where other appropriate safeguards are in place.

By using our website, you consent to the transfer of your information to these service providers for the purposes described in this policy.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction, in accordance with Section 19 of POPIA. These measures include encryption, secure servers, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

9. Data Retention

In terms of Section 14 of POPIA, we retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, or as required by law. When your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. In terms of POPIA, we require your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

10a. Google Analytics and Advertising

We use Google Analytics, including Google Signals, to collect information about your use of our website. Google Analytics collects data such as your device, browser, location, and on-site behavior, and may associate this data with information from users who are signed in to their Google account.

We may also use Google Analytics Advertising Features, such as remarketing and interest reporting. This means third-party vendors, including Google, may show our ads on sites across the internet based on your previous visits to our website.

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking and personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings, Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, or by adjusting your device settings.

For more information, please see the Google Privacy Policy.

11. Your Rights Under POPIA

In terms of Sections 23 to 25 of POPIA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right to Access: Request confirmation of whether we hold your personal information and request access to it
  • Right to Correction: Request correction or deletion of inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out of date, incomplete, misleading, or unlawfully obtained information
  • Right to Deletion: Request destruction or deletion of your personal information
  • Right to Object: Object to the processing of your personal information on reasonable grounds
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent to processing at any time (this will not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal)
  • Right Not to be Subject to Automated Decision-Making: Not be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing that significantly affects you

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer using the details in Section 1. We will respond to your request within a reasonable time, but no later than 30 days.

12. Complaints

If you believe that we have violated your privacy rights or processed your personal information unlawfully, you have the right to lodge a complaint with:

Information Regulator (South Africa)

Email: complaints@inforegulator.org.za

Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg

Phone: 012 406 4818

Address: JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001

We encourage you to contact us first to resolve any concerns before escalating to the Information Regulator.

13. Third-Party Links

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

14. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. In terms of POPIA, processing of children's personal information requires consent from a competent person (parent or guardian). If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18 without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete such information.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new privacy policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, wish to exercise your rights, or have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact our Information Officer:

Information Officer: Franco Marius Fourie

Email: info@PricklyPearEngineering.com

Phone: +27 63 689 4585