Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

sVend is operated by Makha Holdings (Pty) Ltd (Registration Number: 2025/009557/07), with registered address at 62 Childrens Way, Bergvliet, Cape Town ("we", "our", or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our water vending platform.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us and information collected automatically when you use our Service.

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, password, and role (tenant/landlord)
• Property Information: Property addresses, meter numbers, and related details (for landlords)
• Payment Information: Payment card details are processed securely by our payment providers and are not stored on our servers
• Transaction Data: Purchase history, voucher codes, and water usage records
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our support channels

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on the platform
• Log Data: IP address, access times, referring URLs
• Meter Data: Water consumption readings from connected smart meters

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• To provide and maintain our Service
• To process water purchases and generate vouchers
• To send transaction confirmations and voucher codes via SMS and email
• To manage user accounts and provide customer support
• To enable landlords to manage properties and meters
• To process payments through our payment partners
• To detect and prevent fraud and unauthorized access
• To improve our Service and develop new features
• To comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• With Landlords: Tenants' basic information and water usage is shared with their respective landlords
• Payment Processors: Third-party providers process payment transactions securely
• SMS Providers: Third-party providers deliver voucher notifications
• Smart Meter Services: Meter data is processed through our meter integration partner
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit using HTTPS/TLS
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure hosting infrastructure

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with our Service. We may also retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes, such as:

• Transaction records: Retained for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes
• Account information: Retained until account deletion is requested
• Usage data: Retained for up to 2 years for analytics

7. Your Rights (POPIA Compliance)

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Objection: Object to the processing of your personal information
• Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us at rapuleng88@gmail.com

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in to your account
• Remember your preferences
• Understand how you use our Service
• Improve our Service

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our Service.

9. Third-Party Services

Our Service integrates with third-party services for payment processing and SMS notifications. These services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Significant changes will be communicated via email or through the platform.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: