Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how your personal information is collected and used when you use this website, and the rights you have under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA). This is placeholder copy following standard South African practice and should be reviewed before launch.

Responsible Party

This website is operated by Nikki Smit, an occupational therapist. For the purposes of POPIA, Nikki Smit is the Responsible Party for the personal information described in this policy. You can get in touch about anything in this policy at nikkismittherapy@gmail.com.

Information Officer

Nikki Smit acts as the Information Officer for this practice, as required by POPIA, and is registered with the Information Regulator. Requests and questions about your personal information can be directed to nikkismittherapy@gmail.com.

What personal information we collect

Newsletter sign-up: when you subscribe, we collect the first name, last name, and email address you enter into the form.

Technical data: our hosting provider automatically records standard access information such as your IP address, browser type, and the date and time of each request, for security and to keep the site running.

Cookies: we and certain third parties may store small files on your device. See our Cookie Notice for details.

Purpose of processing

We use your newsletter details only to send you the updates you signed up for. We use technical data to operate, secure, and improve the website. We do not use your information for any further, incompatible purpose.

Lawful basis for processing

Under section 11 of POPIA, we process your newsletter details on the basis of your consent, which you may withdraw at any time. We process technical data on the basis of our legitimate interests in keeping the site secure and functioning.

Direct marketing

Our newsletter is opt-in: we only send it to people who have asked to receive it. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time.

Sharing your information

We share personal information only with the Operators and third parties that help us run the site: our email/newsletter provider (to deliver the newsletter), our web host (to serve the site), and Instagram/Meta where a social feed is embedded. Some of these providers may process your information outside South Africa; where that happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure it remains protected. We do not sell your personal information.

Security safeguards

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, damage, and unauthorised access, as required by POPIA.

Retention

We keep your newsletter details until you unsubscribe, after which they are removed within a reasonable period. Technical logs are kept only as long as needed for security and operation.

Your rights

Under POPIA you have the right to ask what personal information we hold about you and to request access to it; to ask us to correct or delete information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out of date, or unlawfully obtained; to object to processing; and to withdraw your consent. To exercise any of these rights, contact nikkismittherapy@gmail.com.

Complaints

If you have a concern about how your personal information is handled, please contact us first. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za, including via the complaints process on their eServices portal.

Access to information (PAIA)

Our PAIA manual, prepared under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, is available on request.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page.