Last updated: 1 August 2026
HelderbergStuff respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we may collect when you visit HelderbergStuff, contact us, subscribe to our communications, interact with our content, or otherwise engage with HelderbergStuff and HelderbergStuff Studio.
HelderbergStuff is a local publication covering life, places, businesses, people, developments and experiences across the Helderberg, including Somerset West, Strand and Gordon’s Bay. HelderbergStuff Studio is the commercial and creative side of the publication, working with businesses and organisations on editorial, promotional and content projects.
This policy applies to information collected through helderbergstuff.co.za and through our associated forms, subscriptions and other digital interactions.
Who we are
HelderbergStuff is an independent local publication documenting and sharing what is new, changing and worth experiencing across the Helderberg.
We publish local stories, news and updates, guides, recommendations, business and community features, and other editorial content. We may also work with local businesses and organisations through HelderbergStuff Studio on sponsored, commissioned or promotional content.
For privacy-related enquiries, you can contact us at:
Email: webmaster@helderbergstuff.co.za
What personal information we collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with HelderbergStuff.
This may include:
- your name;
- email address;
- telephone number or other contact details where you provide them;
- information you include in a contact, enquiry, submission or other form;
- information you provide when communicating with us;
- information associated with a newsletter or publication subscription;
- information relating to comments or other interactions with our website;
- technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device information and general interaction with our website; and
- information contained in files, photographs or other material you voluntarily submit to us.
We only seek to collect information that is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is being collected.
How we use your information
We may use personal information to:
- operate and maintain the HelderbergStuff website;
- respond to enquiries and communications;
- process editorial submissions, story tips, photographs and other material sent to us;
- provide newsletters, updates or other communications where you have subscribed or otherwise permitted us to contact you;
- manage subscriptions and other services you request from us;
- communicate with businesses, contributors, partners and members of the community;
- administer commercial or content-related enquiries through HelderbergStuff Studio;
- understand how visitors use our website and improve its content, functionality and user experience;
- prevent spam, fraud, abuse and other security issues;
- comply with legal or regulatory obligations; and
- protect the rights, property and security of HelderbergStuff, our contributors, our users and others.
Where we publish information supplied by a person as part of an editorial story or submission, we may use that information for legitimate journalistic and publishing purposes. We will consider the circumstances in which information was provided and the applicable legal requirements when deciding what information to publish.
Newsletters and email communications
If you choose to subscribe to a HelderbergStuff newsletter or other email communication, we will use the information you provide to send those communications.
You can unsubscribe from marketing or newsletter communications at any time by using the unsubscribe mechanism included in the relevant communication or by contacting us.
We do not regard a general visit to the website as consent to receive marketing emails.
Where electronic communications constitute direct marketing, we will handle personal information in accordance with applicable South African law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
Contact forms, submissions and correspondence
When you contact HelderbergStuff, submit a story tip, send us information, make an editorial submission or otherwise communicate with us, we may retain the information you provide so that we can respond to you, consider the material, communicate with you about it, or maintain an appropriate record of the interaction.
If you submit material for possible publication, please do not provide personal information belonging to another person unless you have the right or permission to provide it.
Submitting information to HelderbergStuff does not guarantee publication. We may retain submissions and related correspondence for as long as reasonably necessary for editorial, administrative, legal or record-keeping purposes.
Comments and public contributions
Where commenting or other public contribution functionality is available, information you choose to publish publicly may be visible to other visitors.
We may collect information associated with a comment or contribution, including the information entered into the relevant form and technical information such as an IP address or browser information. This may be used for moderation, spam detection, security and administration.
Please remember that information you voluntarily publish publicly should not be regarded as private.
Photographs and media submissions
If you submit photographs, videos or other media to HelderbergStuff, the material may contain information embedded in the file, such as metadata.
You should take care when submitting files that contain personal or location information that you do not intend to share.
Where material is submitted for editorial consideration or publication, we may process the information contained in or accompanying that material for the relevant editorial and publishing purposes.
Cookies and similar technologies
HelderbergStuff may use cookies and similar technologies to make the website function properly, remember certain preferences, understand website usage and improve the site.
Some cookies may be placed by services that we use to provide website functionality, analytics, embedded content or other services.
Cookies may collect information such as your browser, device, pages visited and interactions with the website, depending on the particular service involved.
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect how parts of the website function.
Third-party services and embedded content
Our website may contain links to or embedded content from third-party websites and services, including social media platforms, video services, maps, publishing tools or other external services.
When you interact with third-party content, those third parties may collect information about you according to their own privacy policies and terms.
HelderbergStuff does not control the privacy practices of third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of those services before providing them with personal information.
Who we share personal information with
We do not sell your personal information as a mailing list or otherwise sell personal information for its own sake.
We may share personal information with service providers where this is reasonably necessary to operate HelderbergStuff or provide a service you have requested. These may include providers involved in website hosting, email delivery, forms, analytics, security, spam prevention, payment processing or other technical services.
We may also disclose information where required or permitted by law, where necessary to protect our rights or the rights of others, or where reasonably necessary for the operation of our business.
Where third-party service providers process information on our behalf, we seek to use them in a manner consistent with our legal obligations concerning personal information.
International transfers
Some of the service providers used by HelderbergStuff may process or store information outside South Africa.
Where personal information is transferred across borders, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the transfer is handled in accordance with applicable South African privacy law, including the requirements relating to transborder flows of personal information under POPIA.
How long we keep personal information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or where we have a legitimate editorial, business, administrative or legal reason to retain it.
The appropriate retention period may differ depending on the type of information and the circumstances in which it was collected.
For example, newsletter subscription information may be retained while you remain subscribed, while editorial correspondence or submissions may be retained for longer where reasonably necessary for our publishing records, legal obligations or the administration of the publication.
Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.
However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
If we become aware of a security compromise involving personal information, we will take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable law.
Your privacy rights
Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:
- request access to personal information we hold about you;
- request correction or updating of inaccurate personal information;
- request deletion of personal information where there is no lawful reason for us to retain it;
- object to certain processing of your personal information;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
- object to receiving direct marketing communications.
To exercise a privacy right or make a privacy-related request, contact us at webmaster@helderbergstuff.co.za.
We may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.
Complaints
If you believe that we have processed your personal information unlawfully or have otherwise interfered with your privacy rights, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to address the matter.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa in accordance with applicable law.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to HelderbergStuff, the services we use, our publishing activities or applicable legal requirements.
The latest version will always be published on this page, together with the date on which it was last updated.
Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how HelderbergStuff handles personal information, please contact:
HelderbergStuff
Email: webmaster@helderbergstuff.co.za
