Privacy Policy & GDPR

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026/05/03

This Privacy Policy explains how Haybo Wena (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you visit https://haybowena.co.za/ (the “Website”). It also explains your rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 and the South African Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

By using our Website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Who We Are

Haybo Wena is a South African online news publication based in Cape Town, South Africa, covering politics, sport, entertainment, and general news.

Data Controller: Haybo Wena
Website: https://haybowena.co.za/
Contact: contact@haybowena.co.za

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

  • Name and email address (for example, when submitting a contact form, comment, or newsletter signup).
  • Any other information you voluntarily submit to us.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Website, we automatically collect certain technical data, including:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Device type and operating system
  • Pages visited and time spent on pages
  • Referring website or URL
  • Date and time of your visit

This data is collected via cookies and analytics tools (see Section 6).

2.3 Information From Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party services such as social media platforms if you interact with our content on those platforms.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Operate, maintain, and improve the Website.
  • Understand how visitors use the Website (analytics).
  • Respond to enquiries and provide support.
  • Send newsletters or updates (only where you have opted in).
  • Comply with legal obligations under South African law and applicable international regulations.
  • Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or security threats.

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process your personal data on the following lawful bases:

  • Consent: where you have explicitly opted in (for example, newsletter subscription).
  • Legitimate interests: for analytics, security monitoring, and improving the Website, where such interests are not overridden by your rights.
  • Legal obligation: where processing is required to comply with South African or EU law.
  • Contract: where processing is necessary to provide a service you have requested.

5. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

  • Analytics data: retained for up to 26 months (Google Analytics default).
  • Contact enquiries: retained for up to 2 years.
  • Newsletter subscriptions: retained until you unsubscribe.

6. Cookies

Our Website uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device, to enhance your browsing experience and help us understand how the Website is used.

Types of cookies we use:

  • Essential cookies: required for the Website to function correctly. These cannot be disabled.
  • Analytics cookies: used by Google Analytics to collect anonymous usage statistics. These help us understand visitor behaviour and improve our content.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a service provided by Google LLC. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect anonymous data about how visitors use our Website. The data is aggregated and does not personally identify you. Google may transfer this data to servers in the United States or other countries.

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

For more information on how Google uses data, visit: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense, a service provided by Google LLC, to display advertisements on our Website. Google AdSense uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our Website and other websites across the internet. This is known as interest-based advertising.

Google AdSense may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, and browsing behaviour to deliver relevant advertisements. Google may share this data with its advertising partners.

You can opt out of interest-based advertising by visiting Google’s Ads Settings: https://adssettings.google.com/
You can also opt out via the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page: https://optout.networkadvertising.org/

For more information on how Google uses data in advertising, visit: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads

Managing Cookies

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Website. For more information on managing cookies, visit: https://www.aboutcookies.org/

7. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may process your data:

  • Google Analytics (Google LLC): website analytics.
  • Google AdSense (Google LLC): display advertising; may use cookies to serve personalised ads based on your browsing history.
  • WordPress: website platform and hosting infrastructure.
  • Embedded social media content (Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube): third-party embeds may set their own cookies and collect data in accordance with their own privacy policies.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies directly.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

  • HTTPS encryption across the Website.
  • Regular security monitoring.
  • Access controls for administrative systems.

No method of internet transmission is 100% secure. While we take reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. International Data Transfers

Some of our third-party service providers (such as Google) are based outside South Africa and the European Economic Area (EEA). When your data is transferred internationally, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission, or equivalent protections as required under POPIA.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Under GDPR (EEA/UK residents)

  • Right of access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to rectification: request correction of inaccurate data.
  • Right to erasure: request deletion of your data (right to be forgotten).
  • Right to restrict processing: request that we limit how we use your data.
  • Right to data portability: receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
  • Right to object: object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
  • Right not to be subject to automated decision-making.

Under POPIA (South African residents)

  • Right to access: request access to personal information we hold about you.
  • Right to correction or deletion: request correction or deletion of inaccurate, irrelevant, or excessive information.
  • Right to object: object to the processing of your personal information.
  • Right to complain: lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.

To exercise any of your rights, contact us at: contact@haybowena.co.za

We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

To lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator:
Website: https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/
Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za

To lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in the EEA, contact your local data protection authority.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child under 16 has provided us with personal data, please contact us at contact@haybowena.co.za and we will promptly delete it.

12. Links to Other Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of every website you visit.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the “Last updated” date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Your continued use of the Website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us:

General enquiries: contact@haybowena.co.za
Press enquiries: press@haybowena.co.za
Advertising: contact@haybowena.co.za

Haybo Wena
Cape Town, South Africa
https://haybowena.co.za/