Privacy policy
Ridgeback Digital builds and looks after websites for South African businesses. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, and what you can ask us to do with it. We follow the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).
What we collect
When you ask for a free website preview, we collect what you type into the form: your business name and what it does, your name, your WhatsApp or phone number, your email address, your town or city and province, the state of your current website and its address if you give it, and anything else you choose to tell us. When you message us on WhatsApp or by email, we keep that conversation. If you become a client, we also keep your billing details and the information you send us for your website.
We never use advertising cookies. If you click Allow on our cookie notice, we use Google Analytics to count visits and see which pages help visitors. It sets a cookie and shares basic usage data with Google. If you click No thanks, it doesn't load at all, and you can change your mind by clearing your browser's data for our site.
Our web host keeps basic server logs, such as IP addresses and the pages requested, to keep the site running and secure. Our fonts load from Google Fonts, which means Google receives your IP address when the page loads.
Why we use it
- To prepare your free preview and reply to your questions.
- To build, host and look after your website if you become a client.
- To send invoices and keep the records the law requires.
We only use your information for these reasons. We never sell it, and we don't add you to marketing lists without asking first.
Who we share it with
We share only what's needed with the services that help us run the business: our web host, the payment provider that processes your payments, and WhatsApp (Meta) or our email provider when we talk to you. Some of these services store information outside South Africa. When that happens, we use providers that protect personal information to a standard similar to POPIA.
How long we keep it
If you ask for a preview and don't go ahead, we delete your details within 12 months. Client records are kept for as long as you're a client, and financial records for 5 years, as South African law requires.
Your rights
You can ask us to show you the information we hold about you, correct it, or delete it. You can also object to how we use it. Just send us a message and we'll reply within 30 days.
If you're unhappy with how we handle your information, you can complain to the Information Regulator of South Africa at inforegulator.org.za.
Keeping it safe
Our website runs over a secure connection (HTTPS). Access to client information is limited to the people who need it to do the work.
Contact
Our Information Officer is the owner of Ridgeback Digital. For any privacy question or request, email us at hello@ridgebackdigital.co.za.