AFHCO Africa Housing Company
    Johannesburg cityscape

    Privacy Policy

    1. Commitment to your Privacy

    Welcome to the Website owned and operated by AFHCO. AFHCO is committed to protecting the privacy of the user of the Website. AFHCO values the trust of its subscribers and all others who work with it, and AFHCO recognises that maintaining your trust requires transparency and accountability in how AFHCO handles your Personal Information. This privacy policy ("Policy") is incorporated into and is subject to AFHCO's standard terms and conditions and the general terms relating to the use of the Website.

    In performing AFHCO's services in the ordinary course of business, AFHCO may collect, use and disclose Personal Information. Anyone from whom AFHCO collects such information can expect that it will be appropriately and lawfully protected and that any use of or other dealing with this information is subject to consent, where this is required by law. This is in line with the general privacy practices of AFHCO.

    This Policy sets out how AFHCO collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards the Personal Information it processes in the course of its business.

    2. Definitions

    In this Policy, in addition to the other terms that have been defined in the body of the Policy, AFHCO makes use of the following terms:

    • "Personal Information" means all information which may be considered to be personal in nature or information about an identifiable natural and/or existing juristic person (where applicable) in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 ("ECTA"), the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 ("CPA") and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA").
    • "User, you, your or yourself" refers to any person who makes use of the Website for any purposes whatsoever, whether or not such use is free of charge or paid for.

    In addition, unless the contrary is specified, terms that are used in the Policy that are specifically defined in POPIA, are given the meanings ascribed to them in POPIA.

    3. What Personal Information Does AFHCO Collect and Why?

    AFHCO may collect Personal Information in conducting its ordinary business operations, including through the use of its Website. In processing such Personal Information, AFHCO at all times ensures that (i) it complies with the provisions of POPIA, and (ii) such Personal Information is used for legitimate business purposes.

    4. Obtaining Consent

    AFHCO does not, except where otherwise permitted by law, collect, use or disclose your Personal Information without your consent.

    5. Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

    AFHCO operates its Website, and conducts its business in general, in accordance with South African legislation. AFHCO considers it imperative to protect the privacy interests of data subjects.

    In the event that AFHCO sends Personal Information outside of South Africa (including if such information is hosted offshore), AFHCO will ensure that it takes all reasonable steps to ensure that it complies with all applicable laws in this regard, including POPIA.

    6. Retention of Personal Information

    All Personal Information retained on AFHCO's database, including such information obtained through the use of the Website, is in accordance with the retention provisions set out in the applicable laws and regulations of South Africa, including those set out in POPIA.

    Your Rights in Relation to Your Personal Information

    It is important to note that you have rights in relation to your Personal Information. You have the right to contact AFHCO at any time to ask AFHCO to:

    • Confirm that it holds your Personal Information (at no charge);
    • Provide you access to any records containing your Personal Information or a description of the Personal Information that AFHCO hold about you (subject to payment of a prescribed fee); and/or
    • Confirm the identity or categories of third parties who have had, or currently have, access to your Personal Information (also subject to payment of a prescribed fee).

    When you make a request regarding your Personal Information, AFHCO will take reasonable steps to confirm your identity.

    There may be times when AFHCO cannot grant access to your Personal Information, including where granting you access would (i) interfere with the privacy of others, or (ii) result in a breach of confidentiality. AFHCO will always provide you with reasons if this is the case.

    If you are of the view that any Personal Information that AFHCO holds about you is incorrect in any way, including that it is inaccurate, irrelevant, outdated, incomplete or misleading, you are allowed to ask AFHCO to correct it. If you believe that any Personal Information that AFHCO holds about you is excessive or has been unlawfully obtained, you can ask AFHCO to destroy or delete it. You may do the same if you think that AFHCO has retained it for longer than necessary, given the purpose. AFHCO will do so unless there are good grounds not to (such as that AFHCO is required to hold it for a period prescribed by any applicable legislation).

    It is important, however, to understand that if you withdraw your consent for AFHCO to use some of your Personal Information, it may affect the quality and level of service that AFHCO can provide to you.

    7. Security

    AFHCO has adopted a security model to protect your Personal Information that complies with generally accepted information security practices and procedures. As part of AFHCO's security systems, AFHCO has implemented fire-wall technology, password controls, encryption processes and antivirus software. This is in addition to the physical security measures adopted by AFHCO to ensure that it takes all appropriate, reasonable technical and organisational measures to prevent (i) loss of, damage to, or unauthorised destruction of Personal Information, and (ii) unlawful access to or processing of Personal Information.

    AFHCO confirms that it takes all reasonable measures to:

    • Identify all reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to any Personal Information in its possession or under its control;
    • Establish and maintain appropriate safeguards against any risks that are identified by AFHCO;
    • Regularly verify that these safeguards are effectively implemented by or on behalf of AFHCO; and
    • Ensure that such safeguards are continually updated in response to new risks or deficiencies in previously implemented safeguards.

    8. Cookies Policy

    This is our Cookie Policy which works hand-in-hand with our Privacy Policy. This policy is intended to provide you with a description of what cookies are, what they will be used for, and guidance on how to manage them when browsing our website.

    What are Cookies?

    When visiting our website, small text files, referred to as 'cookies', could be stored on your device. Even though these cookies do not store personal information, they may collect personal identifiers such as your name or email address which allow us to link personal information with your device. This ultimately allows us to recognise your device whenever you visit our website.

    Why Are Cookies Used?

    The cookies on our site are used to:

    • Tailor and improve your experience on our website by remembering your preferences, location and device;
    • Provide you with content that suits your preferences;
    • Ensure advertisements are tailored to your preferences.

    Which Cookies Are Used?

    Our websites make use of an array of cookies. You are able to remove these cookies at your own discretion. The following cookies are used on our website:

    • Essential cookies: Necessary to ensure the website is able to function properly.
    • Functional cookies: Help our website to remember information about you such as your preferences or log-in details.

    Personal Information Collected via Cookies

    Our cookies collect the following personal information from you:

    • Name and surname;
    • Contact details (cellphone and email);
    • Log-in password.

    No other personal information is collected on our website unless you provide this to us by either lodging a complaint or providing feedback/a compliment.

    Usage and Disclosure

    The information provided will be used in accordance with the purpose you provided it to us. Your personal information will only be disclosed to third parties where circumstances are limited and where it is in accordance with the POPI Act requirements, e.g. for legal proceedings.

    Website Analytics

    AFHCO website servers will collect the IP address you use to visit our website. This information is then used to analyse specific information. Below is a list of information collected when visiting our website:

    • When you visited the website (date and time)
    • Your IP address
    • The pages you accessed
    • Your web browser

    The website will not override any settings on your browser.

    Links to Social Networking Services

    AFHCO makes use of LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram to communicate with its clients about its work. These platforms may collect your personal information for their own purpose, should you communicate with us via these platforms. The above-mentioned platforms may track your use of our website if you clicked on a link to our website through the platform.

    How to Delete Cookies

    It is possible that your browser may be set to automatically accept cookies. However, you are able to manually delete the cookies. Steps for Google Chrome:

    1. Open Google Chrome.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of your browser.
    3. Click on Settings in the drop-down menu.
    4. Click on 'Clear browsing data'.
    5. Select 'Cookies and other site data' and choose the time range.
    6. Click on 'Clear data'.

    Please note, not accepting cookies may lead to you being unable to access our website or specific content displayed on the website.

    9. Third-party Websites

    The Website may contain links to third party websites. In the event that you follow a link to any of these websites, it is important to note that these websites have their own terms of use and privacy policies and that AFHCO does not accept any responsibility or liability for them.

    As AFHCO is not responsible for any representations, information, warranties and/or content on any website of any third party (including websites linked to this Website), AFHCO does not exercise control over third parties' privacy policies and the onus is on the User to refer to the privacy policy of any such third party before providing them with any of your Personal Information.

    10. Updating of Privacy Policy

    AFHCO, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to update, modify or amend this Policy from time to time with or without notice. You therefore agree and undertake to review the Policy whenever you visit the Website. Save as expressly provided to the contrary in this Policy, any amended version of the Policy shall supersede and replace all previous versions thereof.

    11. Contact Information

    Questions, concerns or complaints related to this Policy or AFHCO's treatment of Personal Information should be directed to Customer Services at customerservices@afhco.co.za