Last updated: 20 August 2025
Who We Are
Our website address is: https://ecb.org.za.
We are committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013.
What Personal Data We Collect and Why
Comments
When visitors leave comments, we collect:
- Data entered in the comment form
- IP address and browser user agent (for spam detection)
- An anonymised hash of your email may be sent to Gravatar to check for profile association
➤ Gravatar Privacy Policy
Once approved, your profile picture may appear publicly with your comment.
Media
If you upload images, avoid embedding location data (EXIF GPS).
Visitors may extract location data from publicly visible images.
Contact Forms
Information submitted via contact forms (e.g. name, email, message) is used solely to respond to your query.
We do not share this data without your consent.
Cookies
We use cookies to improve your experience:
- Comment cookies store your name/email/website for 1 year
- Login cookies last 2 days (or 2 weeks if “Remember Me” is selected)
- Screen preference cookies last 1 year
- Editor cookies store post ID for 1 day
You can disable cookies via your browser settings.
Embedded Content
Articles may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images).
Such content behaves as if you visited the external site directly.
These sites may collect data, use cookies, and track your interaction.
Analytics
We may use anonymised analytics tools to understand site usage.
No personally identifiable information is stored or shared.
Who We Share Your Data With
We do not sell or share your personal data unless:
- Required by law
- You have given explicit consent
- Necessary for service delivery (e.g. spam detection)
How Long We Retain Your Data
- Comments and metadata: retained indefinitely
- Registered user profiles: retained until deleted by user or admin
- Contact form submissions: retained only as long as necessary
Your Rights Under POPIA
You may:
- Request access to your personal data
- Request correction or deletion
- Object to processing
- Withdraw consent at any time
To exercise these rights, contact us below.
Where We Send Your Data
Visitor comments may be checked via automated spam detection.
Data may be processed outside South Africa only if the destination country has adequate data protection laws (POPIA Section 72).
Your Contact Information
Email: privacy@ecb.org.za
Phone: +27 (0)21 000 0000
Postal Address: ECB Privacy Office, Cape Town, South Africa
Additional Information
How We Protect Your Data
- SSL encryption
- Role-based admin access
- Regular security audits
Data Breach Procedures
In case of a breach:
- Affected users will be notified within 72 hours
- The Information Regulator will be informed (POPIA Section 22)
Third Parties We Receive Data From
We may receive anonymised data from:
- Analytics platforms
- Spam detection services
- Embedded content providers
Automated Decision-Making
We do not use automated decision-making or profiling that has legal or significant effects.
Industry Regulatory Disclosure
As a registered entity in the electrical sector, we may retain data for:
- Compliance with Electrical Installation Regulations (2009)
- Verification of Certificates of Compliance (CoC)
- Audit and inspection under the OHS Act (Act 85 of 1993)
