Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how Zululand Daily News collects, uses, and protects your information when you visit our website, zululandnews.co.za. We are committed to respecting your privacy and ensuring transparency about the data we handle through standard web technologies.
Information We Collect
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information through standard web operations. This includes:
- IP address and approximate location derived from it
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Referring website or search engine
- Server log files
We do not collect names, email addresses, phone numbers, or any other personally identifiable information unless you voluntarily provide it through contact forms or comments — and even then, no data is stored in a database.
How We Use Information
The information collected is used solely for the following purposes:
- To understand how visitors interact with our content
- To improve website performance and user experience
- To analyze traffic patterns and optimize content delivery
- To ensure the website functions correctly and securely
We do not use your data for marketing, profiling, or any commercial purpose beyond site operation and analytics.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. These include:
- Essential cookies — necessary for website functionality
- Performance cookies — used by analytics services to measure site usage
- Third-party cookies — from advertising or analytics partners
Cookies do not store personal information such as your name or contact details. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website features.
Third-Party Services
We use third-party services to help operate and improve our website, including:
- Google Analytics — to track anonymous usage patterns
- Advertising networks — such as Google AdSense, which may place cookies to serve relevant ads
- Content delivery networks — to ensure fast loading times
These third parties have their own privacy policies and may collect data independently. We do not control their practices and encourage you to review their policies.
Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take all reasonable steps to safeguard your information.
Your Rights
Under South African law, specifically the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the following rights:
- The right to know what personal information we hold about you
- The right to request correction or deletion of inaccurate information
- The right to object to processing of your data
- The right to withdraw consent where applicable
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the details provided below. We will respond within 30 days as required by POPIA.
Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed toward children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised Last Updated date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact:
Elara Wentzel
University of Cape Town
Private Bag X3, Rondebosch
Cape Town 7701
South Africa
Email: [email protected]