privacy policy

Last updated: June 2026

This policy explains how Dot Digital collects, uses, and protects your personal information. It is written to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

In short: I only collect the details you give me, I use them to communicate with you about your enquiry or project, and I never use them for marketing or sell them to anyone. If you ever want me to delete what I hold about you, just ask.

Who is responsible for your information

Dot Digital is the responsible party for the personal information described in this policy.

Business name: Dot Digital
Information Officer: Tristan
Email: tristan@dotdigital.co.za
Website: dotdigital.co.za
Based in: East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

What information I collect

I only collect the personal information you choose to give me. That usually happens when you:

  • Fill in a contact form or quote request on the website
  • Email me directly
  • Send me a message on WhatsApp
  • Work with me on a website project

The information I typically collect is:

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • Your phone number
  • Your business name
  • Any details you include about your project or enquiry

I do not ask for, and you should not send, sensitive information such as ID numbers, banking details, or anything similar through the website forms. If a project ever requires that kind of information, I will tell you exactly why and how it will be handled first.

Why I collect it and how I use it

I use your information for one purpose: to communicate with you and deliver the service you have asked for. Specifically:

  • To reply to your enquiry or quote request
  • To discuss your project, send proposals, and answer your questions
  • To carry out the work you have hired me for
  • To send you information directly related to your project, such as updates, invoices, or login details

I do not use your information for marketing of any kind. I will not add you to a mailing list, send you promotional emails, or message you about offers. You will only ever hear from me about your own enquiry or project.

I do not sell, rent, or trade your information to anyone.

When I share your information

I keep your information private. I only share it where it is necessary to run the business and deliver your website, and only with parties who are bound to keep it confidential. These may include:

  • Hosting and domain providers, where your website needs to be set up and kept online
  • Email and software tools I use to run the business and communicate with you
  • A professional such as an accountant, only where required for invoicing or legal compliance

I do not share your information with anyone for advertising or marketing.

Some of the tools and hosting services I use may store data on servers outside South Africa. Where that happens, I take reasonable steps to ensure your information is protected to a standard comparable to POPIA.

How long I keep your information

I keep your information only for as long as I need it for the purpose it was collected, or as long as the law requires.

  • If you make an enquiry but do not become a client, I keep your details for a reasonable period in case you get back in touch, and then delete them.
  • If you become a client, I keep your project and contact details for the duration of our work together and for a reasonable period afterwards, partly because tax and accounting law in South Africa requires business records to be kept for a number of years.

You can ask me to delete your information at any time, and I will do so unless I am legally required to keep it.

How I protect your information

I take reasonable steps to keep your information secure and to prevent unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. This includes using reputable, password-protected tools and services, and limiting access to your information to only what is needed to do the work.

No system is ever completely secure, but I treat your information with care and only keep what I need.

Your rights under POPIA

POPIA gives you rights over your personal information. You have the right to:

  • Ask what personal information I hold about you
  • Ask me to correct or update information that is wrong or out of date
  • Ask me to delete your information, where I am not legally required to keep it
  • Object to how I am processing your information
  • Complain to the Information Regulator if you believe your information has been mishandled

To exercise any of these rights, email me at tristan@dotdigital.co.za. I will respond within a reasonable time and there is no charge for objecting to the processing of your information.

Cookies and website data

The website may use small files called cookies to help it work properly and to remember your settings. These do not identify you personally. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though some parts of the site may not work as well if you do.

Lodging a complaint

If you are not satisfied with how your personal information has been handled, please contact me first at tristan@dotdigital.co.za so I can try to put it right.

You also have the right to complain directly to the Information Regulator:

The Information Regulator (South Africa)
JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001
Email (POPIA complaints): POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za
General enquiries: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za
Phone: 010 023 5200
Website: inforegulator.org.za

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time, for example if the way I run the business changes or the law changes. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last updated shown at the top.

If you have any questions about this policy or your information, email me at tristan@dotdigital.co.za.