At GovNet, accessible from www.govnet.co.za, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by GovNet and how we use it.
This policy is designed to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa. By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information in the following ways:
- Information you provide: When you contact us directly or sign up for alerts, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, phone number, and the contents of the message you may send us.
- Log Files: GovNet follows a standard procedure of using log files. These files log visitors when they visit websites. The information collected includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. These are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
- Application & document information: If you choose to create an account and use our application tools (such as the Z83 auto-fill engine and CV builder), we collect the information you enter into your profile. This may include your South African ID number, passport number, date of birth, race and gender (as required by government application forms), residential and contact details, language proficiency, education and work history, references, your signature, and the conduct declarations that the Z83 form legally requires (for example whether you have a criminal record or pending disciplinary matter).
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect in various ways, including to:
- Provide, operate, and maintain our website;
- Improve, personalize, and expand our website;
- Understand and analyze how you use our website;
- Develop new products, services, features, and functionality;
- Send you emails regarding job alerts or tender updates (if opted in);
- Find and prevent fraud.
3. Application & Document Services (Job Applications and the Z83)
We only collect the sensitive information described above when you actively choose to use our application tools — it is never required simply to browse the site or to sign up for alerts. We use it solely to:
- Pre-fill official government application forms (such as the Z83) and your CV with the details you have entered, so you do not have to re-type them for every application;
- Generate the documents you ask us to generate, which are stored privately in your account and are not shared with any third party unless you choose to submit or download them yourself.
The conduct declarations (criminal record, pending criminal or disciplinary matters, ill-health discharge) are treated as special personal information under POPIA. We process them only because the Z83 form prescribed by the Department of Public Service and Administration legally requires these answers, and only on the basis of your consent and your own use of the application tool. We do not display your ID number, passport number, or these declarations publicly, and we never auto-submit them on your behalf — you confirm your declarations each time you generate an application.
4. POPIA Compliance (Your Rights)
In accordance with South African law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- The right to access: You have the right to request copies of your personal data.
- The right to rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate.
- The right to erasure: You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions.
- The right to object to processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
5. Third-Party Privacy Policies
GovNet's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. We are using third-party services such as Google AdSense for monetization and Google Analytics for traffic analysis. These third parties may use cookies and web beacons to collect data. We advise you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information.
6. Cookies and Web Beacons
Like any other website, GovNet uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information.
7. Security of Data
The security of your data is important to us. Sensitive identifiers such as your South African ID number and passport number are encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption, and all data is transmitted over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection. Generated documents and signatures are stored in private account storage that is not publicly accessible. That said, no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure; while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
8. Links to Other Sites
Our Service contains links to government portals (e.g., eTenders, DPSA) and other external sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of every site you visit.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at support@govnet.co.za.