Last updated: · Version 2026-10-05
1. About this policy
This policy explains how SoftDev handles personal information in connection with this website, inquiries and its services, guided by the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA). SoftDev determines the purposes and means of processing its own inquiry and business records as the responsible party. Formal business details are being finalised as described in the contact section below.
When SoftDev processes information on behalf of a client as an operator, the client’s lawful instructions and the relevant project or data-processing agreement also apply. A client’s product may need its own privacy notice; this policy does not replace it.
2. Information we collect
- Inquiry details: the form asks for your name, email address, project type and project description. You may also supply a company or organisation name, estimated budget and preferred contact method. If you arrive from a pricing plan, the selected plan is included.
- Communications and service records: information you share during correspondence, quotation preparation or a project, and records reasonably needed to deliver services and administer the relationship. A phone number is only received if you choose to supply one in correspondence or project information; the website has no dedicated phone-number field.
- Technical and security information: request information such as a forwarded IP address is used for inquiry rate limiting. Signed tokens, submission status and timestamps help prevent abuse and duplicate submissions. Hosting and email providers may process technical delivery, access and security logs when operating their services.
Information is generally collected directly from you. If you provide someone else’s information for a project, ensure you have authority to do so and share only what is necessary. Please do not put passwords, payment-card details or sensitive personal information in the inquiry form.
Required fields are marked on the form. Without the necessary contact and project details we may be unable to respond or provide the requested service; optional fields can be left blank.
3. Why we process information
We use relevant information to respond to inquiries, understand requirements, prepare quotations, provide requested services, communicate with clients and manage projects. We may also process necessary business records for invoicing, administration, dispute handling and compliance with legal obligations.
Technical information supports website operation, delivery confirmation, security and prevention of spam, fraud and duplicate submissions. An inquiry is a request to discuss work, not acceptance of a development contract or consent to unrelated marketing.
4. Appropriate and lawful processing
We aim to process information lawfully, fairly and reasonably, for specific purposes, and to limit it to information that is adequate, relevant and not excessive. We take reasonable steps to keep information accurate and to be open about its use.
Depending on the circumstances, processing may be necessary to take steps at your request before a contract, perform a contract, comply with a legal obligation, protect a legitimate interest of yours, or pursue a legitimate interest of SoftDev or a third party where POPIA permits it. Where consent is the appropriate basis, we will seek it for the relevant purpose. Acknowledging this policy does not amount to blanket consent for every use of your information.
Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw it, without affecting lawful processing before withdrawal. We will explain if another lawful ground or a legal retention duty continues to apply.
6. Processing outside South Africa
Infrastructure and email providers may process information outside South Africa. Where this involves a cross-border transfer, SoftDev must ensure a basis permitted by section 72 of POPIA, such as adequate protection through applicable law or binding agreements, or another permitted ground. Appropriate safeguards and provider arrangements must be assessed for the information and service concerned. You may contact us to ask about arrangements relevant to your information.
7. Security
SoftDev uses reasonable technical and organisational safeguards appropriate to the information processed and the risks involved. The inquiry implementation includes validation, signed expiring form tokens, request limits and measures against duplicate submissions. Production application logs are designed not to include inquiry message contents or credentials.
No website, transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. We will investigate suspected unauthorised access or disclosure and take appropriate steps, including notifying affected people and the Information Regulator where POPIA requires it.
8. Retention
Personal information should be retained only as long as reasonably necessary for its purpose, contractual or legitimate business-record requirements, dispute handling or legal obligations. Inquiry correspondence may be needed to respond and follow up; project and financial records may need longer retention where the relationship or law requires it.
Technical inquiry rate-limit entries use a ten-minute window and duplicate-submission records use a two-hour window in server memory. Expired entries are cleared on subsequent relevant requests or when the process ends; these windows are not a promise of immediate erasure from memory. Email and provider log retention are separate from these temporary protections.
When information is no longer lawfully needed, it should be securely deleted, destroyed or de-identified, subject to legitimate backup and recovery processes. Contact us if you need information about retention applicable to a particular record.
9. Your rights and privacy requests
Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may request confirmation of whether we hold your personal information and access to it, ask for inaccurate or misleading information to be corrected, or request deletion of information that is excessive, unlawfully obtained or no longer authorised to be retained.
You may also object to certain processing on reasonable grounds relating to your circumstances, withdraw consent where it is relied on, and exercise other rights available under POPIA, including rights concerning direct marketing. These rights are subject to applicable conditions and do not always require deletion of records we must lawfully keep.
Use the contact channel below and describe the information or processing concerned. We may reasonably verify your identity before releasing or changing information. We will explain the applicable process, any legally permitted fee and any lawful reason we cannot fulfil a request, and respond within applicable legal timeframes. Please send only the identification information reasonably requested through an appropriate secure channel.
10. Information Regulator
If you believe your personal information has been processed contrary to POPIA, you may lodge a complaint with South Africa’s Information Regulator. You may contact SoftDev first to seek a resolution, but this is not a condition of exercising your right to complain. The Regulator publishes its current complaint procedures and contact details through its official channels.
12. Third-party links
This website may link to independently operated websites, including portfolio projects. Those sites have their own privacy practices and terms. SoftDev is not responsible for their independent processing; review their privacy notices before supplying personal information.
13. Policy updates
We may update this policy as our services, processing practices or legal obligations change. The current version and last-updated date appear above. Material changes will be brought to your attention where appropriate or legally required, and any additional consent required for a new purpose will be obtained. An update does not retrospectively authorise unlawful processing.
14. Business details and privacy contact
For privacy questions or to exercise your information rights, contact SoftDev. Please identify your message as a privacy request. Existing clients may also use the contact channel in their project agreement.
You can also reach SoftDev using these general business contact details:
- Phone
- +27 71 561 2622
SoftDev is the trading name used on this website. Business registration is being finalised; formal business details will be added when confirmed. The contracting party must be identified in your quotation or project agreement before acceptance.