1. Introduction and responsible party
This Privacy Policy explains how SA Verified News (“we”, “us”, “our”) processes personal information when you use https://saverifiednews.co.za and related services (the “Service”).
We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 where applicable, and other applicable South African law. For POPIA purposes, SA Verified News is the responsible party for personal information described in this Policy, unless we clearly act as an operator for another party.
Information Officer: Information Officer, SA Verified News. Contact: privacy@saverifiednews.co.za.
2. Scope
This Policy applies to:
- visitors and readers of the public website;
- people who contact us (email, forms, tip line, social platforms we operate);
- sources, subjects of reporting, and complainants, to the extent we process their personal information in news activities; and
- authorised users of our editorial / office systems (additional workplace notices may also apply).
It does not cover third-party websites we link to. Their privacy practices are their own.
3. Key definitions
“Personal information” means information relating to an identifiable living natural person, and where applicable a juristic person, as defined in POPIA, including names, contact details, online identifiers, opinions about a person, and correspondence.
“Special personal information” includes information about religious or philosophical beliefs, race or ethnic origin, trade union membership, political persuasion, health or sex life, biometric information, and criminal behaviour, as defined in POPIA. We process such information only where permitted (for example journalistic purposes subject to POPIA’s journalistic exemption where it applies, consent, or other lawful grounds).
4. Personal information we collect
4.1 Information you provide
- Tip line: privacy mode; tip text; relationship to the story; event location and date; people or organisations involved; verification context; uploaded images or videos and their filename, MIME type, size and embedded metadata. Anonymous mode does not collect the form’s identity or contact fields. Confidential and on-record modes require a name, email or phone/WhatsApp number, preferred contact method, and permission for private follow-up. On-record mode also requires the submitter’s role or relationship to the story.
- Email and other correspondence: your email address, name if you supply it, and the content of your messages.
- Corrections and complaints: details needed to investigate, including contact information you provide.
- Office accounts: for staff and authorised contractors, identity, credentials, role, and activity necessary to operate the CMS.
4.2 Information collected automatically
- Technical and usage data: IP address, approximate location derived from IP, browser type, device type, referring URL, pages viewed, timestamps, and interaction events (for example article opens, time on page, card clicks) used for security, performance, and audience analytics.
- Cookies and similar technologies: as described in our Cookie Policy.
4.3 Information from other sources
In newsgathering we may obtain information from public records, documents, interviews, tips, open sources, and other lawful sources. That processing is primarily for journalistic purposes and is handled under editorial standards and applicable law.
5. Purposes and legal bases
We process personal information to:
- provide, secure, maintain, and improve the Service;
- produce, verify, edit, publish, and archive journalism in the public interest;
- receive, secure, assess and verify tips and evidence; contact a confidential or on-record submitter through the permitted method;
- respond to enquiries, corrections, and legal or regulatory requests;
- measure readership and performance of content (including rankings such as most read) in aggregated or individual event form as configured;
- protect rights, property, and safety of our users, staff, sources, and the public; and
- comply with legal obligations.
Depending on the context, our processing may rely on: your consent (for example optional contact details or non-essential cookies where required); performance of a contract; legitimate interests (security, analytics, journalism operations) balanced against your rights; legal obligation; or journalistic / public interest grounds recognised under POPIA and related law. Where POPIA’s journalistic exemption applies, certain processing of personal information for journalistic purposes may be subject to that regime and to our editorial codes rather than all ordinary POPIA conditions.
6. Sharing and operators
We may share personal information with:
- Infrastructure providers that host our website, API, databases, object storage, analytics pipelines, and email (acting as operators under appropriate agreements);
- Professional advisers (lawyers, auditors) under confidentiality;
- Authorities when required by law, court order, or to protect vital interests or public safety; and
- Successors in a merger, acquisition, or asset transfer, subject to continued protection.
We do not sell personal information, use tipster details for direct marketing, or publish confidential contact details. On-record selection is not, by itself, consent to publish a name or quotation. Published journalism may include personal information about newsworthy subjects when lawful and editorially justified.
7. Cross-border transfers
Our infrastructure may process data in or route data through countries outside South Africa (for example cloud regions). Where we transfer personal information outside the Republic, we take steps consistent with POPIA section 72, including ensuring an adequate level of protection or other permitted transfer mechanism, and contractual operator terms where appropriate.
8. Retention
We retain personal information only as long as needed for the purposes above, including:
- rejected or unactioned tips, ordinarily reviewed for deletion after 24 months;
- active investigation material, reviewed at least annually, and source or evidence records supporting published reporting, ordinarily retained for seven years after last material use;
- security and access logs, ordinarily for 12 months, and audience analytics in identifiable form only for the shortest operational period required;
- published content and news archives, which may remain available indefinitely as part of the historical record; and
- longer periods where a legal hold, active claim, source-protection duty, statutory requirement, or compelling public-interest archive requires it.
9. Security
We implement reasonable and appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, and unauthorised access, including access controls for editorial systems, transport encryption (HTTPS), private object storage, file validation, audit logging, and least-privilege practices. We assess suspected security compromises and notify the Information Regulator and affected people as required by section 22 of POPIA. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Your rights under POPIA
Subject to grounds of refusal in POPIA and other law, you may have the right to:
- be notified that personal information is being collected;
- access personal information we hold about you;
- request correction or deletion of inaccurate, irrelevant, or excessive information;
- object to processing in certain circumstances;
- withdraw consent where processing is consent-based;
- lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa); and
- institute civil proceedings for interference with protection of personal information where provided by law.
Follow our Privacy Requests procedureor email privacy@saverifiednews.co.za.
Journalism note: Rights of access, correction, or deletion may be limited where information is processed solely for journalistic purposes under applicable exemptions, or where disclosure would reveal a confidential source, compromise an investigation, or infringe others’ rights. You may still raise accuracy concerns under our Corrections Policy.
11. Children
A person must be at least 18 to submit through the tip form. Material about a child receives heightened editorial and privacy review regardless of who submitted it. We consider guardian involvement, safety, dignity, necessity, the child’s views where appropriate, and whether identification is justified by a compelling public interest. Report inappropriate collection to us so we can restrict, redact or delete it as appropriate.
12. Cookies
See our detailed Cookie Policy for types of cookies, purposes, and controls.
13. Changes
We may update this Policy to reflect operational, legal, or regulatory changes. The “Last updated” date will be revised accordingly. Material changes will be posted on this page.
14. Information Regulator
You may complain to Information Regulator (South Africa) at POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za. Postal/physical address: JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001.
15. Contact
Privacy: privacy@saverifiednews.co.za
Legal: legal@saverifiednews.co.za
Electronic service is accepted at legal@saverifiednews.co.za. A physical service address may be requested through that channel.