MAMAHOOD POLICIES
Privacy Policy
How Mamahood collects, uses and protects personal information.
Mamahood (Pty) Ltd
Effective date: 13 September 2026
These Terms of Use explain the rules that apply when you use Mamahood’s website, My Business Desk and other Mamahood online services.
1. About this Privacy Policy
What does this Privacy Policy cover?
This Privacy Policy explains how Mamahood (Pty) Ltd collects, uses, stores, shares and protects personal information when you interact with Mamahood.
It applies when you:
- visit the Mamahood website;
- use a Mamahood online service;
- register for or use Mamahood advertising services;
- use My Business Desk;
- create or use a Mamahood Sorted account when that service is available;
- complete a Mamahood form;
- contact or communicate with Mamahood; or
- otherwise provide personal information to Mamahood.
Different Mamahood services may collect different information depending on how that service works.
Who is responsible for my personal information?
Mamahood (Pty) Ltd is responsible for personal information where Mamahood determines why and how that information is processed.
In terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), this is referred to as the Responsible Party.
Mamahood may use service providers to process information on its behalf. In some circumstances, another organisation may also process information independently under its own privacy terms.
What do you mean by personal information?
For this Privacy Policy, personal information means information that is regarded as personal information under POPIA.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include information such as your:
- name;
- contact details;
- identification information;
- address;
- account information;
- business information;
- banking or payment-related information;
- communications with Mamahood;
- online identifiers and device information; and
- other information that relates to you and is protected under POPIA.
The exact information Mamahood collects depends on the service you use and what information is reasonably required for that service.
Does using Mamahood mean that I consent to all processing of my information?
No.
Mamahood will only process personal information where there is an appropriate basis for doing so under applicable law.
Depending on the circumstances, information may be processed because:
- you have given consent;
- it is necessary to provide a service or carry out an agreement with you;
- Mamahood is required or permitted to process it by law;
- processing is necessary to protect a legitimate interest of you or another person; or
- processing is necessary for Mamahood to pursue a legitimate interest, where permitted by law.
Where Mamahood specifically needs your consent, we will ask for it where required.
Where processing depends on your consent, you may withdraw that consent, subject to any processing that Mamahood is still required or permitted to carry out for another lawful reason.
Do I have to provide my personal information?
Not always.
Some information is optional, while other information may be necessary for Mamahood to provide a particular service.
For example, Mamahood may require certain information to:
- create or administer an account;
- process an advertising registration;
- provide a paid service;
- issue invoices or process payments;
- communicate important information about a service;
- verify authority or identity where necessary;
- comply with legal or regulatory requirements; or
- protect the security of Mamahood’s systems and services.
Where information is required and you choose not to provide it, Mamahood may not be able to provide the relevant service or complete the requested action.
Optional information may be left out where the relevant form or service allows this.
Do My Business Desk and Mamahood Sorted use the same information?
Not necessarily.
My Business Desk and Mamahood Sorted are separate Mamahood services and may have different account structures and information requirements.
My Business Desk profiles are provisioned in connection with Mamahood advertising services rather than created through general public registration.
Mamahood Sorted may allow users to create their own separate accounts when that service becomes available.
Information collected for one service will not automatically be treated as information required for another service simply because both services are operated by Mamahood.
Where information is legitimately used across Mamahood services, that use must still be consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.
Do other Mamahood policies also apply?
Yes.
This Privacy Policy should be read together with Mamahood’s:
- Terms of Use — for general use of Mamahood websites and online services;
- Advertising Policy — for recurring Mamahood advertising services; and
- PAIA Manual — for information about access to Mamahood records under the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
Where a particular Mamahood service needs an additional privacy notice or consent because of the information it collects, that notice may be provided at the point where the information is collected.
2. Information Collected by Mamahood
What information may Mamahood collect about me?
The personal information Mamahood collects depends on how you interact with us and which Mamahood service you use.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
- your name and surname;
- email address and telephone or mobile number;
- physical, postal or other address information;
- username, account or profile information;
- business name, registration information and business contact details;
- information about the Mamahood services you use;
- advertising registration and account information;
- billing, invoicing and payment-related information;
- banking details where required for an authorised payment arrangement;
- information contained in forms, requests or applications you submit;
- correspondence and communications with Mamahood;
- content, images, documents or other information you choose to provide;
- information needed to verify your identity or your authority to act for a person, business or organisation where reasonably necessary; and
- technical and usage information generated when you use Mamahood’s website or online services.
Mamahood will aim to collect only information that is reasonably relevant to the purpose for which it is being collected.
What information is collected when I register for Mamahood advertising?
When you register for Mamahood advertising, Mamahood may collect information needed to establish and administer the advertising relationship.
This may include:
- your name and contact details;
- your business name and business information;
- the details of the person authorised to manage the business;
- relevant Facebook profile or business information;
- your selected advertising service and billing arrangement;
- invoice and account information;
- banking details and debit-order mandate information where applicable;
- payment status and transaction references;
- information relating to your advertising account status, plan, billing cycle, holds, changes or cancellation; and
- communications and records relating to the advertising service.
Advertising information may also be used to create and administer the relevant My Business Desk profile.
Does Mamahood collect my card details?
Where payment is made through an external payment provider, payment information may be collected and processed directly by that provider.
Mamahood may receive information needed to administer the payment, such as:
- whether a payment was successful or unsuccessful;
- transaction or subscription references;
- payment method information;
- payment dates; and
- other information necessary to reconcile and manage the account.
Mamahood does not need to receive or store your complete card details merely because you make a card payment through a third-party payment provider.
Where Mamahood requires banking details for a debit-order mandate or another authorised payment arrangement, those banking details may be collected and retained for that purpose.
What information will Mamahood Sorted collect?
When Mamahood Sorted becomes available, it may collect information needed to create and operate a separate Mamahood Sorted account and provide the features selected by the user.
Depending on the features available, this may include:
- name and contact information;
- account and login information;
- profile information;
- location or area information where relevant to a feature;
- preferences and account settings;
- information, listings, reviews, comments, images or other content the user chooses to submit;
- interactions with Mamahood Sorted features; and
- technical and usage information associated with the account.
The exact information required will depend on how Mamahood Sorted develops.
Where a particular feature requires information that is not already reasonably covered by this Privacy Policy, Mamahood may provide an additional notice at the point of collection.
A Mamahood Sorted account remains separate from a My Business Desk profile.
What information do you collect when I complete a form or contact Mamahood?
When you complete a Mamahood form, send an email, make an enquiry or otherwise communicate with Mamahood, we may collect:
- the contact information you provide;
- the contents of your message or request;
- information you attach or submit;
- the date and method of the communication;
- information needed to identify the relevant account, business or service; and
- subsequent correspondence relating to the matter.
You should avoid providing personal information that is not reasonably necessary for your request.
What information is collected automatically when I use the website?
When you visit or use Mamahood’s website or online services, certain technical information may be generated or collected automatically.
Depending on the technology being used, this may include:
- your IP address;
- device or browser identifiers;
- browser type;
- operating system or device information;
- pages or features accessed;
- dates and times of access;
- the website or page that referred you to Mamahood;
- general usage and interaction information;
- error, security or diagnostic information; and
- information collected through cookies or similar technologies.
Cookies and similar technologies are dealt with separately in Section 5: Cookies & Online Information.
Do you collect information from Facebook or other third-party services?
Sometimes.
Where you interact with Mamahood through Facebook, Meta or another third-party platform, Mamahood may receive information that you provide through that platform or that the platform makes available in connection with the interaction.
This may include information such as:
- your profile name;
- profile or account identifiers;
- information contained in messages or submissions;
- content you post or send to Mamahood; and
- information reasonably necessary to provide or administer the relevant Mamahood service.
The third-party platform may separately collect and process information under its own privacy terms.
Mamahood does not control the independent information practices of Facebook, Meta or other third-party platforms.
Do you collect information from other people or sources?
In some circumstances, Mamahood may receive personal information from someone other than the person concerned.
For example, information may be provided by:
- an authorised representative of a business or organisation;
- another person completing a transaction, enquiry or service process in which you are involved;
- a payment or service provider;
- Facebook, Meta or another platform through which you interact with Mamahood; or
- another lawful source where the information is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.
Where you provide another person’s personal information to Mamahood, you should have a lawful reason or appropriate authority to do so.
Do you collect sensitive or special personal information?
Mamahood does not intentionally ask users to provide sensitive or special personal information unless it is reasonably necessary for a particular purpose or required or permitted by law.
Because users may communicate freely with Mamahood or submit their own content, they may sometimes provide information of a sensitive nature without being specifically asked to do so.
Users should avoid submitting sensitive personal information unless it is relevant and reasonably necessary.
Where Mamahood processes information subject to additional protection under POPIA, it will be handled in accordance with the applicable requirements.
What about information that is made public by the user?
Some Mamahood services may allow users to submit information intended to be visible to other people.
For example, a Mamahood Sorted profile, listing, review, comment or other user-submitted content may be displayed publicly or to other users where that is part of the feature being used.
Information that will be publicly visible should be identified through the relevant service or feature where reasonably practicable.
Users should consider carefully what personal information they choose to make publicly available.
3. Why & How We Use Your Information
Why does Mamahood use my personal information?
Mamahood uses personal information only for purposes that are reasonably connected to its services, business operations or legal obligations.
Depending on how you interact with Mamahood, information may be used to:
- provide and administer Mamahood services;
- create, maintain and manage accounts and profiles;
- process registrations, requests and forms;
- communicate with you about a service or account;
- manage advertising subscriptions and My Business Desk access;
- process and reconcile invoices, payments and authorised payment arrangements;
- provide customer support and respond to enquiries;
- operate and improve Mamahood’s website and online services;
- understand how Mamahood services are being used;
- protect Mamahood, its systems and its users;
- prevent or investigate fraud, misuse or security incidents;
- enforce Mamahood’s agreements and policies;
- maintain appropriate business and accounting records;
- comply with legal, tax, regulatory or other lawful requirements; and
- send marketing or promotional communications where permitted.
How do you use information to provide Mamahood services?
Mamahood may use the information you provide to carry out the service you have requested or registered for.
For example, this may include using information to:
- process an advertising registration;
- create or administer a My Business Desk profile;
- maintain advertising account information;
- administer billing, payments, holds, plan changes or cancellations;
- respond to support requests;
- process forms or applications;
- provide account features;
- deliver information or communications connected to the service; and
- operate Mamahood Sorted features when that service becomes available.
The information used will depend on the particular service.
How do you use my information to communicate with me?
Mamahood may use your contact information to send communications that are reasonably necessary for a service or relationship you have with us.
These may include:
- account or registration confirmations;
- payment or billing communications;
- changes relating to a service;
- security or account notices;
- responses to enquiries;
- support communications;
- cancellation or service confirmations; and
- other important administrative messages.
These are service-related communications and are different from optional marketing messages.
Where you have an active service with Mamahood, opting out of marketing does not prevent Mamahood from sending communications that are reasonably necessary to administer that service.
Does Mamahood use my information for marketing?
Mamahood may use contact information to send news, promotions, offers or other marketing communications where this is permitted by applicable law.
Where consent is required, Mamahood will request it where appropriate.
Marketing communications should provide a reasonable way to opt out or unsubscribe.
If you opt out of marketing, Mamahood may still retain your contact information to record that preference and may continue to send necessary service, account, legal or transactional communications.
Will information from one Mamahood service be used for another?
Not automatically.
Mamahood operates more than one service, including advertising services, My Business Desk and, in future, Mamahood Sorted.
Information collected through one service may only be used for another Mamahood purpose where that use is reasonably compatible with the purpose for which the information was collected, otherwise permitted by law, or supported by any additional consent that may be required.
For example, the fact that someone has a Mamahood Sorted account does not automatically make that person a Mamahood advertiser or authorise Mamahood to create a My Business Desk profile for them.
Similarly, information held for an advertising account does not automatically become public information within Mamahood Sorted.
How do you use information to improve Mamahood?
Mamahood may use information about how its website and services are used to understand and improve how those services work.
This may include:
- identifying technical problems;
- understanding which pages or features are used;
- improving website performance and usability;
- developing or improving features;
- measuring general service activity;
- improving communications and customer support; and
- maintaining the reliability and security of Mamahood systems.
Where reasonably possible, Mamahood may use aggregated or de-identified information for analysis rather than information that directly identifies an individual.
How do you use information for safety and security?
Mamahood may process personal information where reasonably necessary to protect its services, systems, users and community.
This may include:
- detecting or preventing fraud;
- investigating suspected misuse of an account or service;
- protecting against spam, malicious activity or unauthorised access;
- investigating security incidents;
- enforcing Mamahood’s Terms, policies or agreements;
- responding to serious complaints or safety concerns; and
- protecting the legal rights or interests of Mamahood or another person where permitted by law.
Can Mamahood use my information for legal or regulatory purposes?
Yes.
Mamahood may process and retain personal information where reasonably necessary to:
- comply with South African law;
- meet tax, accounting or financial recordkeeping requirements;
- respond to a lawful request from a regulator, court or public authority;
- establish, exercise or defend legal rights;
- investigate or resolve a complaint or dispute; or
- comply with another legal obligation that applies to Mamahood.
Information will not be disclosed simply because someone asks for it. Any disclosure must have an appropriate basis.
Will Mamahood make decisions about me automatically?
Mamahood may use automated technology to support ordinary website functions, security, account processes or service administration.
Mamahood does not intend to rely solely on automated processing to make a significant decision about a person where applicable law requires human involvement or additional safeguards.
If Mamahood introduces a service that uses automated decision-making in a way that materially affects users, appropriate information about that processing should be provided for that service.
4. Sharing Your Information
Does Mamahood share my personal information with other organisations?
Sometimes, but only where there is an appropriate reason for doing so.
Mamahood may share personal information where reasonably necessary to:
- provide or administer a Mamahood service;
- process payments or authorised payment instructions;
- operate, host or secure Mamahood’s systems;
- communicate with users;
- maintain business, accounting or customer records;
- obtain professional or technical assistance;
- comply with a legal obligation; or
- protect Mamahood, its users or another person where permitted by law.
Mamahood will aim to share only the information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.
Does Mamahood sell my personal information?
No.
Mamahood does not sell or rent lists of personal information to third parties for their independent marketing.
The fact that Mamahood works with advertisers, service providers or other businesses does not give those parties general access to Mamahood’s customer or user information.
Do Mamahood advertisers receive information about members?
Not simply because they advertise with Mamahood.
A Mamahood advertising subscription does not give an advertiser access to Mamahood’s private member, customer or account databases.
An advertiser may, however, receive information that you intentionally provide directly to them, for example where you:
- contact the advertiser;
- respond to an advertisement;
- submit an enquiry to that business;
- comment publicly on content;
- provide information through a form operated by that business; or
- otherwise choose to interact with them.
Once you provide information directly to another business, that business may process the information under its own privacy practices and legal obligations.
Which service providers may receive my information?
Mamahood may use third-party service providers to help operate its business and provide its services.
Depending on the service involved, these may include providers of:
- website hosting and technical infrastructure;
- customer and account management systems;
- online forms and account functionality;
- payment processing and debit-order collection;
- accounting and financial administration;
- email and communication services;
- data storage and backups;
- analytics and website performance services;
- security and fraud-prevention services; and
- professional, technical or administrative support.
These service providers should only receive access to information reasonably necessary for the service they perform.
Where a service provider processes personal information on Mamahood’s behalf, Mamahood expects that information to be handled appropriately and in accordance with applicable privacy and security requirements.
What happens when I make a payment?
Where Mamahood uses a payment provider, bank or debit-order service, information necessary to process or administer the payment may be shared with or processed by the relevant provider.
This may include information such as:
- your name;
- account or transaction references;
- payment amount;
- payment status;
- banking information where required for an authorised debit order; and
- other information necessary to process or reconcile the payment.
The payment provider or financial institution may also process information under its own legal and regulatory obligations.
Does Mamahood share information with Facebook or Meta?
Mamahood operates significant parts of its community and advertising activity through Facebook and Meta platforms.
When Mamahood uses these platforms, information may be visible to or processed by Meta depending on how the relevant Facebook or Meta feature works.
For example, information may be processed when you:
- join or interact with a Mamahood Facebook group;
- comment on or react to content;
- send a Facebook or Messenger communication;
- interact with advertising or other content; or
- otherwise use a Meta feature connected with Mamahood.
Meta operates its own platforms and processes information under its own privacy terms.
Mamahood does not control Meta’s independent processing of information.
What information may other Mamahood users see?
This depends on the service and what you choose to make available.
Information contained in a private account or administrative record is not automatically visible to other users.
However, where a service is designed for information to be shared or published, other people may be able to see it.
For example, this could include:
- a public post or comment;
- a business advertisement;
- a Mamahood Sorted profile or listing;
- a review;
- information you intentionally publish within a community; or
- other content submitted to a public or user-visible feature.
Users should consider what personal information they choose to include in content intended to be publicly visible.
Can Mamahood share my information for legal or safety reasons?
Yes, where there is an appropriate legal basis.
Mamahood may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to:
- comply with a lawful court order, regulatory requirement or legal process;
- respond to a lawful request from a public authority;
- comply with tax, accounting or other statutory obligations;
- investigate suspected fraud, unlawful activity or serious misuse;
- protect the safety or legal rights of Mamahood, a user or another person;
- establish, exercise or defend a legal claim; or
- respond to a serious security incident.
Mamahood will not disclose personal information merely because someone asks for it.
Can Mamahood share information with professional advisers?
Yes, where reasonably necessary.
Mamahood may provide relevant information to professional advisers or service providers such as accountants, auditors, attorneys or other specialists where their assistance is required for legitimate business, legal, accounting or compliance purposes.
They should only receive information relevant to the work they are performing.
What if Mamahood’s business structure changes?
If Mamahood undergoes a genuine sale, merger, restructuring or transfer of all or part of its business, relevant information may need to be disclosed to professional advisers or a prospective or new owner as part of that process.
Any handling of personal information in those circumstances must remain subject to applicable privacy law and appropriate confidentiality and security requirements.
5. Cookies & Online Information
Does Mamahood use cookies?
Yes.
Mamahood may use cookies and similar technologies on its website and online services to help the website function, remember preferences, understand how the website is used, maintain security and improve the user experience.
A cookie is a small piece of information stored on your browser or device when you visit a website.
The cookies used by Mamahood may change as its website and services develop.
What types of cookies may Mamahood use?
Depending on the website features in use, Mamahood may use cookies or similar technologies for purposes such as:
- essential functionality — to make the website or a particular feature work properly;
- security — to help protect accounts, forms and online services;
- account and session management — for example, to keep a user signed in while using an account area;
- preferences — to remember settings or choices;
- performance and analytics — to understand how people use the website and identify technical or usability problems; and
- third-party functionality — where another service integrated into the website requires cookies or similar technology.
Not every category will necessarily be used on every Mamahood page or service.
Are some cookies necessary for the website to work?
Yes.
Some cookies or similar technologies may be necessary to provide functionality requested by the user or to maintain the security and operation of the website.
For example, these may be used to:
- manage a login session;
- remember information during a form process;
- protect against malicious or unauthorised activity; or
- maintain essential website functionality.
Blocking these technologies may cause parts of the website or an online service to stop working correctly.
Does Mamahood use analytics?
Mamahood may use analytics or similar tools to understand how its website and online services are being used.
This may include information such as:
- pages visited;
- approximate visit times and duration;
- general interaction with website features;
- browser or device information;
- referring pages; and
- technical or performance information.
Analytics information may be used to improve website performance, usability and services.
Where reasonably possible, Mamahood may use aggregated or de-identified information for this purpose.
Do third parties place cookies through the Mamahood website?
They may.
Some website features may depend on third-party providers, such as:
- hosting or website technology providers;
- analytics services;
- payment providers;
- embedded content or social-media functionality; or
- other services integrated into the Mamahood website.
These providers may use their own cookies or similar technologies when their services are used.
Where a third party independently collects information through its own technology, its own privacy and cookie practices may also apply.
Mamahood does not control cookies placed independently by a third-party website after you leave the Mamahood website.
What about Facebook and Meta technologies?
Where Mamahood links to, embeds or uses functionality provided by Facebook or Meta, those platforms may collect information in accordance with their own privacy and technology practices.
Mamahood’s use of Facebook groups, pages or other Meta services does not give Mamahood control over Meta’s independent use of cookies, device information or other tracking technologies.
Does Mamahood use cookies for advertising?
Mamahood may use or introduce online technologies that help measure, manage or improve its marketing or advertising activities.
Where Mamahood uses advertising or tracking technologies that require a particular notice, choice or consent under applicable law, the appropriate mechanism should be provided.
Can I control cookies?
Yes.
You can usually control or delete cookies through your browser or device settings.
Depending on your browser, you may be able to:
- view stored cookies;
- delete existing cookies;
- block some or all cookies;
- prevent websites from storing new cookies; or
- receive a warning before a cookie is stored.
Blocking cookies may affect the operation of certain Mamahood website features, particularly login, form or account functionality.
Where Mamahood provides a cookie preference tool or banner, you may also be able to manage applicable choices through that tool.
Do cookie choices affect My Business Desk or Mamahood Sorted?
They may.
Account-based services such as My Business Desk and Mamahood Sorted may need certain cookies or similar technologies to manage sessions, logins, security or account functionality.
If essential account technologies are blocked, users may not be able to sign in or use some features correctly.
Non-essential technologies should not be treated as essential merely because they appear on the same website.
How long do cookies stay on my device?
This depends on the particular cookie or technology being used.
Some cookies last only for the duration of a browser session and are removed when the session ends.
Others may remain for a longer period so that a website can remember preferences, security information or other settings.
Third-party cookies may have retention periods determined by the relevant third-party provider.
6. Keeping & Protecting Your Information
How does Mamahood protect my personal information?
Mamahood takes reasonable steps to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction.
The safeguards used will depend on the type of information, the systems involved and the risks associated with the processing.
These measures may include appropriate:
- access and password controls;
- system and account security;
- backups;
- anti-virus and other protective software;
- secure website connections and encryption where appropriate;
- restrictions on who may access information; and
- procedures for responding to security incidents.
Who can access my personal information within Mamahood?
Personal information should only be accessed by people who reasonably need it for the work they are performing.
Access may be necessary, for example, to:
- administer a customer or advertising account;
- respond to an enquiry;
- manage billing or payments;
- operate or support a Mamahood service;
- maintain business records;
- investigate a security or account issue; or
- comply with a legal obligation.
Access to information should be appropriate to the person’s role and the purpose for which the information is being used.
Can Mamahood guarantee that my information will never be compromised?
No online or electronic system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Mamahood takes reasonable steps to protect personal information, but cannot guarantee that unauthorised access, cyber incidents, technical failures or other security events will never occur.
This does not remove Mamahood’s responsibility to take appropriate security measures or to respond appropriately if a security incident occurs.
What happens if there is a personal-information security incident?
If Mamahood becomes aware that personal information may have been accessed, acquired, lost or disclosed without authorisation, Mamahood will take reasonable steps to:
- investigate the incident;
- contain or reduce further risk where possible;
- determine what information and people may have been affected;
- take appropriate corrective or security measures; and
- make any notifications required under applicable law.
Where POPIA requires notification to an affected person or the Information Regulator, Mamahood will deal with the incident in accordance with those requirements.
How long does Mamahood keep personal information?
Mamahood does not intend to keep personal information for longer than is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is held.
The appropriate retention period depends on the type of information and why it is being kept.
Information may, for example, be retained while:
- an account or service remains active;
- Mamahood is providing or administering a service;
- an amount remains payable or a financial transaction needs to be reconciled;
- information is reasonably required for customer support or dispute resolution;
- Mamahood must keep records for tax, accounting, regulatory or other legal purposes;
- information is reasonably required to establish, exercise or defend legal rights; or
- another lawful retention requirement applies.
What happens when Mamahood no longer needs my information?
Where personal information is no longer reasonably required and Mamahood does not have another lawful reason to retain it, Mamahood may securely delete, destroy or de-identify the information.
Some information may remain temporarily in system backups or archived records before being removed through normal backup or retention processes.
Information that Mamahood is legally required to retain does not have to be deleted simply because an account has closed or a person asks for deletion.
Does closing an account mean all my information is immediately deleted?
No.
Closing a My Business Desk profile, Mamahood Sorted account or another Mamahood service does not necessarily mean that every related record can or should immediately be deleted.
Mamahood may still need to retain certain information for purposes such as:
- financial and accounting records;
- payment records;
- contractual history;
- cancellation records;
- fraud or security records;
- disputes or complaints;
- legal compliance; or
- evidence of transactions and agreements.
Information that is no longer necessary for any legitimate or lawful purpose should not be kept indefinitely merely because it was collected previously.
Where is my personal information stored?
Mamahood may store personal information electronically or, where applicable, in physical business records.
Electronic information may be held within Mamahood’s own systems or within systems operated by service providers used to provide, support or secure Mamahood’s services.
The location and system used may depend on the particular Mamahood service and the technology supporting it.
Is my information transferred outside South Africa?
Mamahood’s current PAIA Manual records that no transborder flow of personal information is planned.
Mamahood will therefore not state in this Privacy Policy that cross-border processing forms part of its current intended processing arrangements.
If Mamahood later introduces a service or provider that requires personal information to be transferred to, stored in or processed in another country, Mamahood will deal with that processing in accordance with POPIA and any other applicable requirements.
Where required, Mamahood will also update the relevant privacy information or compliance documentation to reflect that change.
What happens when Mamahood uses an external service provider to store information?
Where a service provider stores or processes personal information on Mamahood’s behalf, Mamahood expects appropriate privacy, confidentiality and security safeguards to apply.
Mamahood remains responsible for selecting and using service providers in a manner consistent with its legal obligations as the Responsible Party.
A service provider may also have independent legal responsibilities depending on the particular service it provides.
7. Your Privacy Rights, Choices & Contact
What rights do I have over my personal information?
Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have the right to:
- ask what personal information Mamahood holds about you;
- request access to your personal information;
- ask Mamahood to correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete, misleading or out of date;
- request deletion or destruction of information that Mamahood is no longer authorised to retain;
- object to certain processing of your personal information;
- withdraw consent where processing depends on your consent;
- opt out of direct marketing communications; and
- raise a complaint about how your personal information has been handled.
Some of these rights are subject to legal requirements or exceptions and do not necessarily mean that Mamahood must delete or stop processing information in every circumstance.
How can I access the personal information Mamahood holds about me?
You may request access to personal information that Mamahood holds about you, subject to POPIA, PAIA and any applicable legal limitations.
Mamahood may ask for enough information to:
- identify you;
- locate the relevant records; and
- verify that the information is being released to the correct person or authorised representative.
Formal access-to-record requests are dealt with in accordance with Mamahood’s PAIA Manual and the applicable PAIA process.
How can I correct my information?
If personal information Mamahood holds about you is inaccurate, incomplete, misleading or out of date, you may ask for it to be corrected.
Some information may also be editable directly through the relevant account or service where that functionality is available.
For information you cannot update yourself, you may contact Mamahood and identify:
- the information that is incorrect;
- what you believe the correct information should be; and
- any supporting information reasonably necessary to deal with the request.
Can I ask Mamahood to delete my information?
Yes, you may request deletion or destruction of personal information where applicable.
However, the right to request deletion is not an automatic right to have every record immediately removed.
Mamahood may still retain information where it is reasonably or legally required for purposes such as:
- tax, accounting or financial recordkeeping;
- existing contractual or payment obligations;
- fraud or security records;
- complaints or disputes;
- establishing, exercising or defending legal rights; or
- another lawful retention requirement.
Where Mamahood is no longer authorised or required to retain information, it may delete, destroy or appropriately de-identify it.
Can I object to Mamahood using my information?
In certain circumstances, yes.
Where POPIA gives you a right to object to particular processing, you may submit an objection to Mamahood.
The effect of an objection will depend on:
- what information is being processed;
- why Mamahood is processing it;
- the legal basis for that processing; and
- whether Mamahood has another lawful reason or obligation to continue processing it.
Mamahood may therefore need to consider the circumstances of the request before determining what action is required.
Can I withdraw my consent?
Yes, where Mamahood is relying on your consent to process personal information.
You may withdraw that consent, subject to applicable law.
Withdrawing consent does not make processing that lawfully occurred before the withdrawal invalid.
It also does not necessarily require Mamahood to stop processing the information where another lawful basis permits or requires the processing to continue.
How do I stop marketing communications?
You may opt out of Mamahood direct marketing communications using the unsubscribe or opt-out method provided in the communication or by contacting Mamahood.
Opting out of marketing does not prevent Mamahood from sending communications that are reasonably necessary for:
- an active account or service;
- payments or billing;
- security;
- legal or regulatory matters;
- a transaction or request you initiated; or
- another administrative purpose connected with your relationship with Mamahood.
Mamahood may retain enough information to record and respect your marketing preference.
What if I want to close my account?
Where a Mamahood service allows an account to be closed, you may use the account-closing process that applies to that particular service.
Closing an account does not automatically require Mamahood to delete every record connected with that account.
The retention rules explained in this Privacy Policy continue to apply.
Closing My Business Desk access also does not itself cancel a separate Mamahood advertising subscription. Advertising cancellation must follow the process in the Advertising Policy.
How do I make a privacy request?
For privacy questions or requests relating to your personal information, you may contact Mamahood.
For formal POPIA or PAIA matters, Mamahood’s registered Information Officer is:
Lizanne Oved
Email: lizanne@mamahood.co.za
Mamahood may request reasonable information to verify your identity or authority before providing access to, changing or deleting personal information.
This is intended to protect personal information from being released or altered at the request of an unauthorised person.
What if I am unhappy with how Mamahood handles my privacy request?
Please contact Mamahood first so that we have an opportunity to understand and address the concern.
You also have the right to approach the Information Regulator (South Africa) where applicable.
Can this Privacy Policy change?
Yes.
Mamahood may update this Privacy Policy where its services, technology, information practices or legal requirements change.
The current Privacy Policy will be published on the Mamahood website with its effective date.
Where a change materially affects how existing personal information is processed, Mamahood will take any additional steps required under applicable law, which may include providing notice or obtaining additional consent where necessary.
A change to the Privacy Policy does not by itself give Mamahood permission to use previously collected information for an unrelated purpose where further legal authority or consent is required.
How can I contact Mamahood about privacy?
For general privacy questions, you may contact: