Privacy Policy

At srdME, we recognize the sensitivity of your personal information. As an independent resource for South African grant seekers, our privacy framework is built on a "Privacy by Design" philosophy. This policy explains how we protect your rights under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA).

🛡️ Our Zero-Retention Commitment

For the SRD Status Check Tool: We do not store, log, or harvest your South African ID number or mobile number. Data entered into our tools is processed in volatile memory only to facilitate a real-time query with official databases and is immediately purged upon the conclusion of your session.

1. Information We Do Not Collect

Consistent with our expertise in data minimization, srdME does not collect or process:

• Official SASSA application credentials.
• Banking details or financial statements.
• Biometric data or physical addresses.
• Persistent logs of your Personal Identification Numbers (ID numbers).

2. Information We Process (Limited Scope)

To maintain our Authoritativeness and improve user experience, we process minimal, non-identifying data:

• Technical Metadata: IP addresses (anonymized), browser type, and device category to ensure our site displays correctly on all South African mobile networks.
• Usage Analytics: We use privacy-first analytics to understand which guides (e.g., "How to Appeal") are most helpful to our community.
• Communication Data: If you email us, we use your email address solely to respond to your specific inquiry.

3. POPIA Compliance & Your Rights

Under POPIA, you are the Data Subject and srdME acts as the Responsible Party. You have the following enforceable rights:

• Right to Notification: You have the right to know how your data is used (as outlined here).
• Right of Access: You can ask what info we hold (though our "Zero-Retention" means this will typically be "None").
• Right to Objection: You may object to the processing of your personal information at any time.
• Right to Complain: You have the right to contact the South African Information Regulator at enquiries@inforegulator.org.za.

4. Cookies & Transparency

We use "Essential Cookies" to keep the site functional. We do not use third-party tracking cookies for behavioral advertising or "retargeting." Any analytics used are configured to respect "Do Not Track" (DNT) browser settings.

5. Technical Safeguards (Trustworthiness)

To ensure the integrity of your connection, srdME employs:

• Full Site Encryption: 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption for all data in transit.
• Server-Level Security: Routine security patching and firewalls to prevent unauthorized access.
• Vetted External Links: We only link to official .gov.za or sassa.gov.za domains for grant actions.

6. Independence Disclosure

srdME is not SASSA. We do not have access to the SASSA master database. Our status tool acts as a secure bridge to help you view your own publicly accessible grant status without us seeing or keeping your data.