POPIA Compliance

Apple Tree Daily News is committed to complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA), South Africa’s primary data protection law. This page explains how we uphold your rights under POPIA and how you can exercise them.

Scope and Applicability

Although Apple Tree Daily News does not maintain a user registration system or store personal information in a database, we may automatically collect limited personal information through standard website operations, such as IP addresses, browser types, and usage patterns via analytics tools and server logs. This information is collected solely for website functionality, security, and analytical purposes, and is processed in accordance with POPIA requirements.

Your Rights Under POPIA

Under POPIA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to access your personal information held by us
• Right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• Right to request deletion of your personal information where it is no longer necessary
• Right to object to the processing of your personal information
• Right to be informed about how your information is used

How We Comply

We ensure POPIA compliance by:

• Minimizing data collection to only what is strictly necessary
• Securing all collected data through technical and organizational measures
• Not retaining personal information longer than required
• Regularly reviewing our data handling practices
• Providing clear and accessible channels for rights requests

Data We Process

The only personal information we may process includes:

• IP addresses
• Browser and device information
• Timestamps of visits
• Pages viewed and session duration

This data is collected anonymously where possible and is not linked to identifiable individuals unless required for security investigations.

Legal Basis for Processing

Our processing of personal information is based on our legitimate interest in operating a secure, functional, and informative news website. We do not rely on consent for this limited processing, as it is necessary for the provision of our services and does not unduly impact your rights.

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of your rights under POPIA, please contact us via email at [email protected] with the subject line: “POPIA Request.” Include your full name, contact details, and a clear description of the request. We will respond without undue delay.

Response Timeframes

We will respond to your request within 30 days of receipt. If additional time is required, we will notify you in writing with the reasons for the delay and the expected response date.

No Discrimination Policy

You will not be denied service, charged different rates, or receive a lower quality of service for exercising your rights under POPIA.

Updates and Changes

We may update this POPIA Compliance page periodically. Any material changes will be posted here with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this page regularly.

Contact Information

For questions, requests, or complaints regarding your personal information under POPIA, please contact:

Damien Faulkner
Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Email: [email protected]

You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa at www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/.