Privacy Policy

  1. Introduction

 

  • Mapongwana Attorneys Inc. (“Mapongwana Attorneys”, “we”, “us”, “the Firm”) values your privacy and personal information. We have compiled this Privacy Policy (“Policy”) to assist you to understand how we process and protect your personal information.
  • By providing us with your personal information, you consent to us processing your personal data in accordance with this Policy. In turn, we commit to take reasonable care in protecting the privacy of your personal information and abiding by this Policy.
  • Please ensure that you only share private information with us if you are comfortable with doing so. Please note that in some instances, we require your personal information to serve your needs as effectively and efficiently as possible.

 

  1. Why we collect your information

 

  • We collect, store and use your personal information to fulfil our mandate in terms of the Letter of Engagement that we enter with you. At all times, we ensure that we process your personal information safely and securely. We are committed to protecting your rights in law and exercise reasonable care to maintain the confidentiality of your personal information.

 

  1. How We Collect Your Information

 

  • We may collect your information through interacting with you. In most cases, you will provide us with your information when procuring our professional services. Sometimes, we may request it from you. We may also collect your information when you contact us through traditional communication methods or electronic platforms such as email, telephone, our website and social media however this list is not exhaustive. We may also obtain your personal information from third parties. It is important to note that we will only use your personal information if it is necessary for us to provide efficient legal services.

 

  1. Information We May Collect

 

We may collect the following information about you:

  • your name, personal details, contact details, identification number and related documents, information relating to your tax registration, employment information, educational background, financial and banking information, and any further information that you may provide us with;
  • information that is necessary for us to provide effective legal services to our clients;
  • information obtained while corresponding with you or interacting with on our electronic platforms including but not limited to our website or social media;
  • your personal details and image when you visit our offices.

 

  1. Where We Store Your Information

 

  • We keep your personal information in safe physical storage or secure electronic storage. Banking details are stored on our third-party, secure banking platform.
  • We have implemented the necessary security measures to safeguard your personal information and protect it from unlawful and unauthorised access, unauthorised processing, or accidental loss, destruction or damage.
  • Although we take extra care to protect the confidentiality of your personal information, we cannot guarantee its safety in instances where your information is provided to us electronically. However, we do ensure that we implement strict measures to protect your information.

 

  1. How We Use Your Information 
    • We use your information to:
      • provide or improve our professional services to our clients;
      • consider your application to us for employment;
      • comply with South African laws;
      • fulfil our mandate to you and manage our relationship with you;
      • respond to your questions and update you about our offerings;
      • communicate with you and ensure that our information about you is correct and up to date;
      • conduct research; and
      • run our internal operations.

 

  • Please also note that we also store standard information that is received when you interact with the Site regarding your internet connection and online services, to track movements on the Site. This information will not identify you.
  • The personal information of children is only stored and collected with the consent of a parent or guardian.

 

  1. Disclosure and Transfer of Your Information

 

  • We generally do not disclose your information to third parties unless it is necessary. Those third parties include: legal and regulatory authorities, advocates, courts, accountants, auditors, professional advisers, sub-contractors or providers of products and services. We may also disclose your information in order for us to enforce our Letter of Engagement or any agreement we may have with you, to provide services to our clients, to comply with a legal obligation or to protect the rights, property, or safety of us or others.

 

  1. Your Rights

 

 You have the following rights in relation to the information we hold about you:

    • the right to access information held about you;
    • the right to request the correction of your information to make the information accurate;
    • the right to unsubscribe from marketing communications; and
    • the right to request the deletion of your information.

 

  • For your protection, we may only implement requests with respect to the information associated with the details you provide to us and we may need to verify your identity before implementing your request.

 

  • We utilize backup systems, therefore if we are not able to delete residual copies from our systems or from our backup systems, your information will continue to be protected as required under this Policy.

 

  1. How do We Protect Your Personal information?

 

  • We take all reasonable and appropriate measures to ensure that your Personal information is safeguarded and secure by using reasonable standards of technology and operational security in place to attempt to prevent the misuse of any of your Personal information. Any of our authorised employees who are responsible for the maintenance of any special Personal information as defined by the Protection of Personal information Act (No. 4 of 2013) (hereinafter “POPIA”) submitted by you are requested to maintain the confidentiality of such information unless you have expressed to us otherwise.
  • When we outsource other organisations to provide support services to us, we will bind them to our privacy policies as far as they may be required to have access to our client’s personal information to perform such services.

 

  • When we will disclose personal information without consent. We will not disclose personal information to anyone outside the organization(s) who provide services to us without your permission unless:
    • the information is already in the public domain;
    • we are compelled to do so by law or in terms of a court order;
    • it is in the public interest to do so; and
    • it is necessary to protect our rights.

 

  • Unfortunately, no system is perfect and we cannot guarantee absolute security despite our best efforts. In the event that there is a privacy breach, we have to let you know as soon as reasonably possible unless we are obligated by law not to do so.

 

  1. Changes to this Policy

 

  • We will periodically review our privacy practices, which are subject to change. Any changes we may make to this Policy in the future will be posted on this page.

 

  1. Contact

 

  • Please contact our Information Officer at belinda@mapongwana.co.za if you have questions regarding this Policy or our privacy practices, if you would like to review, correct, update or delete the information we hold about you, if you would like to object to or withdraw your consent to our use of your information or if you would like to unsubscribe from our marketing communications.

 

  1. Details of authorities

 

  • If you have laid a complaint with us regarding your personal information and you feel that we have not addressed your concerns adequately, please contact the Information Regulator at inforeg@justice.gov.za for further assistance.