Privacy Policy

Our Commitment

At iThemba Community Old Age Home, we believe in treating everyone who interacts with us — our residents, families, donors, volunteers, and supporters — with the same dignity and respect we provide to our gogos and madalas. We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about how we use it. This policy applies to information collected through our website ( ithemba.lovable.app) and any related communications.

What Information We Collect

We only collect information that is necessary to communicate with you, process your support, and improve our services. This may include:

• Contact detailsYour name, email address, and phone number so we can stay in touch, share updates, and acknowledge your contributions.
• Donation recordsDate, amount, and method of donation so we can issue Section 18A tax certificates and maintain accurate financial records.
• Volunteer detailsYour availability, skills, and emergency contact information so we can plan safe, meaningful volunteer activities.
• Website usageAnonymous browsing data such as pages visited, time spent, and referral source to help us understand how people find and use our site.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information exclusively for the following purposes:

• To keep you informed about our mission, facility news, and the joy-filled lives of our residents.
• To acknowledge and process your generous donations, including issuing Section 18A certificates where applicable.
• To coordinate volunteer visits and ensure the safety and comfort of both volunteers and residents.
• To respond to your enquiries via email, WhatsApp, or phone.
• To maintain accurate records for NPO and PBO compliance, auditing, and reporting.
• To improve our website and understand how visitors engage with our cause.

Cookies, Analytics & Advertising

Our website uses cookies for essential functionality and, with your consent, for analytics and advertising. When you first visit, our cookie banner lets you accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your choice at any time by clearing your browser storage for this site.

• Essential cookies — required to make the site work.
• Analytics cookies — help us understand which pages are useful. Data is aggregated and anonymised.
• Advertising cookies (Google Ads) — if enabled, help us reach more supporters for iThemba's mission. Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. You can opt out of personalised advertising at Google Ads Settings.

Third-Party Services

We work with a small number of trusted service providers who help us operate securely:

• Payfast — for processing online card donations. When you pay via Payfast, your payment details are handled directly by Payfast under their own privacy policy. We do not store your card or banking details on our servers.
• Capitec Bank — for receiving EFT donations to our NPO account.
• Google (Analytics & Ads) — helps us measure reach and communicate our mission, subject to your cookie choices above.
• Hosting platform — our website is hosted on a secure platform that collects server logs for security and performance.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for marketing or commercial purposes.

Data Security & Retention

We treat your data with the same care as we treat our residents. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. Only authorised staff and volunteers who need the information to perform their duties have access to your details.

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described above or as required by South African law, including NPO and PBO record-keeping obligations. When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it.

Your Rights

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your information where it is no longer necessary for the purpose collected.
• Object to the processing of your information in certain circumstances.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent (for example, marketing communications).

To exercise any of these rights, please use our POPIA Request Form or email admin.ithemba@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days in accordance with South African law.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently received information from a minor, please contact us immediately and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or website features. The latest version will always be posted on this page with the updated date at the top. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, would like to exercise your rights, or simply want to talk about how we handle your information, please reach out. We are here to help.

iThemba Community Old Age Home · NPO 151-637 NPO · 10 Pluto Lane, Khwezi, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, 7784