Draft for review. Have this checked by someone qualified in POPIA before Localist goes public, and fill in the operator details.

Privacy policy

Last updated: 2026-09-28

Who we are

Localist (localist.co.za) is a directory of businesses in North West, South Africa. Localist is operated by [company name and registration number], [physical address]. Our Information Officer is [name], who can be reached at [email address]. We are the "responsible party" for the information described here, as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

What we collect

• Business listing details that a business gives us or agrees we may publish: business name, categories, services, contact numbers, email addresses, website and social media links, address or area, opening hours, logo, banner and adverts.
• Account details for business owners: name, username, email address, phone number and a securely hashed password.
• Consent records: when and how a business agreed to be listed, and whether it agreed to hear from our partner companies.
• Usage counts: anonymous totals of profile views and contact-button clicks per business. We use these to show owners how their listing performs. We do not build profiles of visitors.
• Reports that visitors send about incorrect listing details, and any contact details they choose to include.

Why we use it

• To publish business listings so the public can find and contact businesses.
• To let business owners manage their listing.
• To keep the directory accurate and to prevent fraud and misuse.
• Only if the business separately agreed: so that our partner companies, Adveramedia and ownar.space, can contact the business about their services. Agreeing to this is optional and is never a condition of a free listing.

Direct marketing

We will only send electronic marketing, such as email, SMS or WhatsApp, to businesses that have agreed to it. Every message will include a way to opt out. You can withdraw consent at any time by contacting us.

Who we share it with

Published listing details are public. We share details with Adveramedia and ownar.space only for businesses that agreed to partner marketing. We use service providers to run the website: hosting, maps provided by OpenStreetMap, and fonts provided by Google Fonts. We do not sell personal information.

Cookies

We use a single cookie that is needed to keep you signed in and to protect forms. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. If you use "near me", your browser shares your location with this page to sort results. We do not store it.

How long we keep it

We keep listing and account details while the listing is active. If you ask us to remove a listing or close an account, we delete the details, except records we must keep by law, such as consent records and an activity log of admin actions.

Your rights

You may ask to see, correct or delete personal information we hold about you, object to its use, or withdraw consent. Contact [email address]. You may also complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za.

Security

Passwords are stored only as secure hashes, and access to the admin area is restricted and logged. No system is perfectly secure. If a breach affects you, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.