Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

This policy is issued by ShokaConnect Pty Ltd (“ShokaConnect”, “we”, “us”), registration number, of Hyde Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. We are the responsible party for the personal information described here.

Our Information Officer is Marcial Samanga, who can be contacted at marcial@shokaconnect.com. General enquiries: info@shokaconnect.com, +27 81 357 1973.

2. What this policy covers

This policy applies to our website, the ShokaConnect platform where accounts, requests, quotes and payments are managed, and any communication with us by email, phone, WhatsApp or at events such as the Business Indaba.

3. Information we collect

Information you give us:

• Your name, email address, phone number and location
• Business details such as business name, services, service areas, registration details and profile content
• Verification information, such as company registration documents and details of directors or owners
• Requests you post, quotes, messages, reviews and job history
• Event registrations and marketing preferences

Information collected automatically: your IP address, device and browser type, pages visited and cookie data.

Information from others: payment providers, verification services, and our funding partner Bridgement if you choose to apply for funding.

We do not store full card numbers. Payments are processed by Tradesafe.

4. Why we use it

• To create and manage your account and profile
• To match requests with suitable businesses and let you exchange quotes and messages
• To verify businesses and help prevent fraud
• To process payments and resolve disputes
• To send service messages and marketing where you have agreed to receive it
• To improve the website and platform and to meet our legal obligations

We process personal information where it is necessary for our contract with you, where we have a legitimate interest, where the law requires it, or with your consent.

5. Who we share it with

• Other users, as needed to use the marketplace: for example, a business sees the details of a request you send it, and your public profile is visible to visitors
• Service providers who host, run and support our platform, payments, email and analytics, under confidentiality obligations
• Bridgement, only if you choose to apply for funding through ShokaConnect
• Authorities, where the law requires it

We do not sell personal information.

6. Information sent outside South Africa

Some of our service providers may store information outside South Africa. When this happens, we make sure the information is protected to a standard at least equal to POPIA, as required by section 72 of POPIA.

7. How we protect it

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to keep personal information safe, including access controls and secure connections. If a security compromise affects you, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.

8. How long we keep it

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes above, or as long as the law requires, for example, for tax and accounting records.

9. Your rights

• Ask what personal information we hold about you and request a copy
• Ask us to correct or delete your information
• Object to processing, including direct marketing, at any time
• Withdraw consent where we rely on it
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (inforegulator.org.za)

To use these rights, contact our Information Officer at marcial@shokaconnect.com.

10. Cookies

We use cookies to keep the site working and, where used, to understand how visitors use it. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Some parts of the site may not work properly without them.

11. Direct marketing

We only send marketing messages where the law allows it or where you have agreed. Every message includes a way to unsubscribe.

12. Children

ShokaConnect is intended for people aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without the consent of a parent or guardian.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last updated.