Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Ekachakra Technologies (Pty) Ltd ("we", "our", "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

• Personal Information: Name, email address, phone number, billing address, shipping address, and other information you provide when creating an account, placing an order, or contacting us.
• Payment Information: Payment details processed securely by third-party payment providers — we do not store card numbers on our servers.
• Transaction Data: Order history, purchase amounts, product preferences, returns, and refund records.
• Usage Information: Browsing history on our website, search queries, pages visited, products viewed, and interactions with our services.
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, and referring URLs.
• Communication Records: Emails, support tickets, and any correspondence between you and Ekachakra Technologies.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process and fulfil your orders, including payment processing, packaging, and shipping
• Create and manage your user account
• Communicate with you regarding orders, deliveries, and customer support enquiries
• Provide after-sales support, including handling returns and refunds
• Improve our website, products, and services
• Personalise your shopping experience and recommend products
• Send marketing communications about promotions and new products (with your consent)
• Detect and prevent fraud and security threats
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Sharing Your Information

We may share your personal information with:

• Payment Providers: For secure transaction processing (PCI DSS compliant)
• Courier Partners: Shipping address, contact name, and phone number for delivery
• Technology Providers: Hosting, email, and analytics tools that help us operate our platform
• Legal Authorities: When required by law, legal process, or to protect our rights

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

5. POPIA Compliance

As a South African company, we comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA):

• Lawful Processing: We process personal information only with lawful basis (consent, contract performance, legal obligation, or legitimate interest)
• Purpose Limitation: We collect information only for specific, defined, and lawful purposes
• Minimality: We collect only information that is adequate, relevant, and not excessive
• Information Quality: We take reasonable steps to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Security Safeguards: We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures
• Information Officer: Contact us at info@ekachakra.co.za for POPIA enquiries

6. Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the right to:

• Request access to and a copy of your personal information
• Request correction or deletion of inaccurate information
• Object to the processing of your personal information
• Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior lawful processing)
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@ekachakra.co.za. We will respond within 30 days as required by POPIA.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures including:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS (HTTPS)
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing

8. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies to:

• Essential Cookies: Maintain your session and shopping cart (required)
• Analytics Cookies: Understand how visitors interact with our website
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and display options

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

9. Data Retention

• Account Information: Retained for the duration of your account and 5 years after closure (tax/legal compliance)
• Transaction Records: Retained for 5 years (Tax Administration Act and Companies Act)
• Communication Records: Retained for 3 years after the last interaction
• Website Usage Data: Anonymised analytics retained for up to 2 years

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without verifiable parental consent. If you believe we have collected information from a child, contact us at info@ekachakra.co.za.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• Information Officer: info@ekachakra.co.za
• Support: support@ekachakra.co.za | 061 841 3134
• Sales: sales@ekachakra.co.za | 083 390 9616

You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) at https://inforegulator.org.za.