Privacy Policy

Open Circles | Effective date: 24 June 2026

Open Circles (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and any other applicable South African data protection legislation.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you visit our website.

1. Who We Are

Open Circles is an organisation dedicated to gathering people, facilitating dialogue, and strengthening leadership. Our website provides information about our work, events, and services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information:

  • Contact information: your name and email address when you voluntarily submit an enquiry, sign up for updates, or contact us via any form on our website.
  • Usage and analytics data: non-identifiable information about how visitors interact with our website, including pages visited, time spent on the site, browser type, device type, and referring URLs. This data is collected through cookies and similar technologies.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • To respond to enquiries and correspondence you direct to us.
  • To send you newsletters, updates, or information about events and programmes, where you have given us consent to do so.
  • To understand how our website is used and to improve its content, design, and functionality.
  • To comply with applicable legal obligations.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under POPIA, we process your personal information on the following grounds:

  • Consent: where you have voluntarily provided your contact details or subscribed to communications from us.
  • Legitimate interest: to maintain and improve our website and to understand how it is being used.
  • Legal obligation: where processing is necessary to comply with a legal requirement.

5. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect analytics data. Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your browser.

We use:

  • Analytics cookies (e.g. Google Analytics or similar) to understand visitor behaviour in aggregate, anonymised form.

You may adjust your browser settings to refuse or delete cookies at any time. Please note that disabling cookies may affect your experience on our website.

6. Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information with:

  • Third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website or delivering communications (e.g. email marketing platforms, website hosting providers), subject to appropriate data processing agreements.
  • Regulatory authorities or law enforcement, where required by law.

All third parties with whom we share data are required to handle your information securely and in compliance with applicable legislation.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. When your data is no longer needed, we will delete or anonymise it securely.

8. Your Rights

Under POPIA, you have the right to:

  • Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.
  • Object to or restrict the processing of your personal information.
  • Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent.
  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your rights have been infringed.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the details provided below.

9. Information Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

Open Circles

Email: info@opencircles.co.za
Website: opencircles.co.za

Information Regulator (South Africa): www.inforegulator.org.za