Privacy notice

1. Who is responsible for your information

Blackwood Platforms (Pty) Ltd is the responsible party where we decide why and how personal information is processed. In this notice, “blackwood”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Blackwood Platforms (Pty) Ltd.

2. What this notice covers

This notice applies to:

• the blackwood corporate website and related web pages;
• messages, enquiries and partnership or pilot conversations sent to us;
• early product testing or pilot activity where this notice is expressly referenced; and
• basic website analytics, security and technical logs used to operate the site.

BPay and other Blackwood products may have their own product-specific privacy notices before public launch. Where a product notice conflicts with this website notice, the product-specific notice will apply to that product.

3. Information we may collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may process:

• Contact information, such as your name, email address, telephone number, organisation and role.
• Communications, including the content of emails, forms, feedback, pilot discussions and support requests.
• Technical information, such as IP address, browser type, device information, pages viewed, referral source and security logs.
• Usage information, including how visitors move through the website and interact with links or product information.
• Pilot or product information that you choose to provide when participating in a test, demonstration or early-access workflow.

We do not ask you to submit banking credentials, card PINs or passwords through this corporate website.

4. Why we use personal information

We may use personal information to:

• operate, secure and improve the website and our systems;
• respond to enquiries and continue conversations you start with us;
• evaluate partnerships, pilots, suppliers and commercial opportunities;
• understand how our website and early products are being used;
• detect abuse, fraud, security incidents or technical problems;
• meet legal, regulatory, accounting or record-keeping obligations; and
• develop and test Blackwood products where you have chosen to participate.

Under POPIA, we process personal information only where there is a lawful basis to do so, including where processing is necessary for an agreement, required by law, protects a legitimate interest, or is based on consent where consent is appropriate.

5. When we share information

We do not sell personal information. We may share limited information with:

• technology providers that host, secure, analyse or support our website and systems;
• professional advisers such as legal, accounting or compliance advisers where necessary;
• business partners involved in a pilot or service you have chosen to participate in, where the sharing is relevant and appropriately controlled; and
• regulators, law-enforcement bodies, courts or other authorities where disclosure is legally required.

Service providers that process personal information for us are expected to use it only for the agreed purpose and to apply appropriate safeguards.

6. International processing

Some of the technology providers we use may process or store information outside South Africa. Where personal information is transferred across borders, we take reasonable steps to ensure the transfer is permitted under POPIA and that the information receives appropriate protection.

7. Cookies and analytics

This website may use essential technical storage and privacy-conscious analytics to understand performance, traffic and product interest. These tools may collect device, browser and usage information. We do not use the corporate website to build advertising profiles or sell behavioural data.

8. How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, to continue an active relationship, to protect our legitimate interests, or to meet legal and record-keeping requirements. When information is no longer required, we aim to delete, de-identify or securely archive it as appropriate.

9. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure. No internet service can guarantee absolute security, so we also limit the information we collect and the people and systems that need access to it.

10. Your rights

Subject to applicable law, you may ask us to:

• confirm whether we hold personal information about you;
• provide access to personal information we hold about you;
• correct or update inaccurate or incomplete information;
• delete or restrict information where the law permits;
• object to certain processing; or
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

We may need to verify your identity before completing a privacy request. You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) if you believe your personal information has been handled unlawfully.

11. Changes to this notice

We may update this notice as Blackwood products, providers and legal obligations change. Material changes will be reflected on this page with a revised effective date. Product-specific notices may be introduced as individual products move from development into public use.