Privacy Policy & POPIA Compliance

Protection of Personal Information Act (Act 4 of 2013) & General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

POPIA & GDPR Compliant • Zero Tracking Guarantee

We Respect Your Data Sovereignty

Hoesit is built on a radical privacy commitment: We do NOT track your online activity, do NOT build behavioral psychological profiles, do NOT feed you an addictive dopamine algorithm, and NEVER sell your personal data.

1. Information We Collect & Why

We collect only the bare minimum data necessary to provide you with a high-quality community network and local business directory:

Account Basics: Username, full name, and email address (used strictly for account authentication and transactional OTP security verification).
Voluntary Profile Details: Optional profile picture, bio, and interests that you choose to showcase.
General Location: Province, City, and Suburb selected by you to discover nearby local businesses, products, and community events. We do NOT run continuous background GPS tracking.
Business Listings: Registered company name, operating hours, phone/WhatsApp contact info, and public catalog items if you register a merchant page.

2. Account Verification & Privacy Standards

Hoesit provides official Verified Badges to help community members identify authentic South African creators, brands, and local businesses.

🔒 No Identity Scans or CIPC Documents Required: We do NOT collect, require, or store national ID books, passports, or CIPC business registration certificates.
🔒 Direct Secure Verification: Verification is granted through verified account ownership, verified email confirmation, and secure payment processing via PayFast without collecting or storing sensitive government identification documents.
🔒 Full POPIA Protection: Your personal data remains strictly protected under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

3. No Algorithmic Tracking or Ad-Profiling

Unlike conventional social media networks:

No Hidden Tracking: We do not log your clicks across external websites or construct secret ad profiles.
Chronological Feeds: Content on Hoesit is served chronologically and by relevant community topics — not by engagement-optimizing addiction algorithms.
No Third-Party Brokers: We do not sell or transfer user contact information to third-party ad brokers.

4. Your Rights Under POPIA & GDPR

Under Section 23 and 24 of the South African POPIA Act and GDPR regulations, you have full control over your personal information:

Right to Access & Rectify: You can view and edit your profile, listings, and posts anytime.
Right to Permanent Erasure: You have the absolute right to delete your account at any time. Selecting Settings > Delete Account permanently purges all your posts, photos, messages, businesses, and account data from our live databases.
Information Officer Contact: If you have any privacy inquiries or wish to lodge a query, contact our Information Officer at team@hoesit.co.za.