Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

The Wild Café (Pty) Ltd ("The Wild Café", "we", "us", or "our") is the Responsible Party as defined under POPIA. We are responsible for determining the purpose and means of processing your personal information.

2. Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, the following terms have the meaning set out below:

• Personal Information — any information that identifies or can be used to identify a natural person, including name, email address, phone number, and IP address.
• Processing — any operation performed on personal information, including collection, storage, use, disclosure, or deletion.
• Responsible Party — the person or entity that determines the purpose and means of processing personal information (The Wild Café (Pty) Ltd).
• Data Subject — the natural person to whom personal information relates (you, the visitor or customer).
• POPIA — the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013, South Africa's data protection legislation.
• Website — the website accessible at www.thewildcafe.co.za.

3. Information We Collect

We only collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us. We do not collect information automatically or through tracking technologies.

Information you provide directly:

• Name — so we know who we are communicating with.
• Email address — to respond to your enquiry or confirm a booking.
• Phone number — to contact you regarding your booking or enquiry.
• Message content — the details you share in your enquiry or booking request.

This information is collected only when you submit our contact or booking enquiry form. We do not collect any sensitive personal information (such as race, health information, or financial data) and we do not run newsletters, loyalty programmes, or subscription services.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information you provide for the following lawful purposes:

• To respond to your enquiries and questions in a timely manner.
• To confirm, manage, or follow up on event and tasting bookings.
• To communicate information directly related to your visit or booking at The Wild Café.
• To comply with legal obligations under South African law.

5. Cookies & Tracking

Our website does not currently use analytics platforms (such as Google Analytics) or advertising tracking tools (such as Meta Pixel). We do not track your behaviour across other websites.

Like most websites, our server may automatically log basic technical data when you visit, including:

• Your device's IP address (used only for security and server diagnostics).
• Browser type and version.
• The pages you visit and the time of your visit.

This technical log data is not linked to any personal identity and is not used for profiling or marketing. It is retained for a limited period for security and troubleshooting purposes only.

If we introduce cookies or analytics tools in the future, this policy will be updated and you will be notified via a cookie consent banner on the website.

6. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for their own commercial use. In limited circumstances, your information may be shared only as follows:

• Service providers: We may use trusted third-party service providers (such as our website host or email provider) who process your information strictly on our behalf and under our instructions. These providers are bound by confidentiality obligations.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority.
• Protection of rights: We may disclose information where necessary to protect the legal rights, property, or safety of The Wild Café, its staff, or the public.

In all cases, we ensure that any third party receiving your information is bound by obligations of confidentiality consistent with this policy and applicable law.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law. Specifically:

• Enquiry and contact form submissions are retained for as long as needed to resolve your enquiry and for a reasonable period thereafter in case of follow-up.
• Booking-related information is retained for the duration of your booking and for a period thereafter to address any related queries.

Once your personal information is no longer required, we will delete or anonymise it in a secure manner. You may also request deletion of your information at any time by contacting us (see Section 13).

8. Your Rights Under POPIA

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or outdated personal information.
• Right to deletion: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to any legal obligations that require us to retain it.
• Right to object: You may object to the processing of your personal information where you believe it is not lawful or is no longer necessary.
• Right to complain: If you believe your rights under POPIA have been violated, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.

You may also contact the Information Regulator directly:

• The Information Regulator (South Africa)
• Website: www.inforegulator.org.za
• Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za

9. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure transmission of data via HTTPS encryption.
• Restricted access to personal information — only authorised staff who need the information to carry out their duties have access.
• Regular review of our data handling practices.

Please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. In the event of a data breach that affects your rights, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as required by law.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has submitted personal information to us without your consent, please contact us at info@thewildcafe.co.za and we will promptly delete the information.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (for example, social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook). These links are provided for your convenience. Once you leave our website, this Privacy Policy no longer applies and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit before providing them with your personal information.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the services we offer. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please do not hesitate to get in touch: