Privacy Policy
We know reading legal documents can be tedious, but it is necessary that you understand exactly how your data is handled when you interact with us. We’ve written this policy to be straightforward - avoiding dense legal jargon so you get a clear picture of what we collect, why we collect it, and how we protect your digital footprint.
Please note that this privacy policy covers the grantZA website.
How We Handle grantZA Informal Trader Grant Applications
The only grant we actually run is our own grantZA Informal Trader Startup Grant. When you apply, we need certain personal information so that we can verify who you are, decide whether you qualify, and pay a successful grant into your account. Specifically we collect your full name, SA ID number and ID document, date of birth, cellphone number, optional email, home address, business type and description, trading location, payment details (bank or mobile money), and an optional photo of your business.
How this information is handled:
- It is submitted over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection and stored securely so that we can vet, approve, and pay your application.
- Access is limited to authorised SNEGO GROUP staff who work on the grant.
- We do not share it with SASSA or any government department, we do not sell it, and we do not use it for marketing.
- Records are kept only for as long as we reasonably need them to run the grant, resolve any dispute, and meet our record-keeping duties under South African law, after which they are deleted or anonymised.
How We Handle Status Check Data
Our status check tool only looks up applications for the grantZA Informal Trader Startup Grant. grantZA is not SASSA and we do not offer a SASSA status check. If you need to check a SASSA grant such as SRD R370, Older Persons, Disability, Child Support, or Foster Care, please use the official SASSA channels directly (srd.sassa.gov.za, USSD *120*69277#, or WhatsApp 082 046 8553).
When you use our status check, your ID number and cellphone number are sent over an encrypted connection for a single lookup against your grantZA application. We do not save the lookup itself to our databases. We do not link it to your IP address, and we certainly do not sell it to marketers. The result is placed in your browser session only for display, and is discarded when you close the tab.
What Other Information Do We Collect?
Outside of the application form and status check described above, we purposefully keep the data we gather to an absolute minimum. We collect two basic types of information:
- Information you voluntarily give us: If you use our contact form to ask a question or report an issue, you will provide your name and email address so we can reply.
- Information collected automatically: We use standard analytics tools to see how visitors navigate the site. This captures anonymous data like your browser type, the pages you read most frequently, and roughly what province you are visiting from.
Third-Party Advertising and Cookies
Running a fast, comprehensive database requires financial resources. To keep access to our guides and status tools 100% free for everyone, we rely on third-party advertising through networks like Google AdSense.
These advertising partners use cookies and anonymous mobile device identifiers to serve ads based on your prior visits to our platform or other sites on the internet. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting your Google Ads Settings or adjusting the tracking preferences on your mobile device. While we don't control the exact ads shown, we actively block ad categories that are predatory or inappropriate.
Links to Official Government Portals
Throughout our guides, you will find buttons and links directing you to official state application portals (like the DMRE, NEF, or SASSA). Once you tap those links and leave the grantZA environment, our privacy policy no longer applies. We highly recommend reviewing the privacy guidelines of those respective government agencies before uploading your official documents.
Your Rights Under POPIA
As a South African resident, your digital privacy is legally protected under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). You hold the right to:
- Ask what personal data we hold about you (which will likely just be your email address if you've previously contacted us).
- Request that we permanently delete any of your personal correspondence from our records.
- Unsubscribe from any communication whenever you choose.
Changes to This Policy
The digital landscape moves quickly, and privacy laws occasionally update. If we make any meaningful changes to how we handle your data, we will update this page and change the "Last Updated" date at the top. Minor phrasing tweaks might happen quietly, but our core commitment to keeping your data safe won't change.
Get In Touch
If you have any specific concerns about your privacy while using the website, or if something in this policy doesn't quite make sense, please reach out. For privacy, POPIA, or any other legal or compliance matter, email us directly at [email protected], or drop us a message through our Contact Us page.