Privacy Policy

Last updated 19 June 2026 · Copus (Pty) Ltd · POPIA-compliant

Copus (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights as a data subject.

1Who We Are

Copus (Pty) Ltd is the responsible party for personal information collected through the Copus application and website. Our registered address is 13 Shamrock Sands, 46 Hillcrest Drive, Beacon Bay, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

2Information We Collect

Information you provide directly:

Full name, email address, and phone number at registration

Profile photo and biography (optional)

Service listings, skills, pricing, and availability (Service Providers)

Payment details (processed and stored by our payment provider, not by Copus)

Messages and communications sent through the platform

Reviews and ratings submitted after completed bookings

Information collected automatically:

Device identifiers and operating system details

IP address and general location (city-level)

In-app activity: screens visited, searches performed, bookings made

Push notification tokens (if permission is granted)

3How We Use Your Information

We process your personal information to:

Create and manage your account

Facilitate bookings and payments between Clients and Service Providers

Send transactional notifications (booking updates, payment confirmations)

Resolve disputes and enforce our Terms of Service

Improve platform features and personalise your experience

Detect and prevent fraudulent or illegal activity

Comply with legal obligations under South African law

We will not use your personal information for any purpose that is incompatible with the purposes listed above without your consent.

4Lawful Basis for Processing

Under POPIA, we process your information on the following grounds:

Contractual necessity: to deliver the services you have requested

Legitimate interests: to maintain platform security and prevent fraud

Legal obligation: to comply with applicable South African law

Consent: for optional marketing communications, which you may withdraw at any time

We share personal information only in the following circumstances:

With other users as necessary to facilitate a booking (e.g. a Client’s name and contact details shared with a confirmed Service Provider)

With trusted third-party service providers (payment processors, cloud hosting, analytics) under strict data-processing agreements

With law enforcement or regulatory authorities when required by law or court order

In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, in which case you will be notified in advance

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

6Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Service. After account closure, we retain certain data for up to 5 years to comply with our legal and financial record-keeping obligations. You may request earlier deletion subject to these obligations.

7Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. These include encrypted data transmission (TLS), access controls, and regular security reviews.

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security and encourage you to use a strong, unique password for your account.

8Cross-Border Transfers

Our cloud infrastructure may process data in countries outside South Africa. Where this occurs, we ensure that the receiving party provides an adequate level of protection consistent with POPIA’s requirements, either through contractual safeguards or by transferring to jurisdictions with equivalent data-protection standards.

9Your Rights Under POPIA

As a data subject, you have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you

Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention obligations)

Object to the processing of your information

Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer at privacy@copus.co.za. We will respond within 30 days.

10Cookies & Tracking

The Copus mobile application does not use browser cookies. We use anonymised analytics to understand usage patterns. You may opt out of analytics collection in the app’s notification settings.

11Children’s Privacy

Copus is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that a minor has created an account, we will delete their information promptly.

12Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes via in-app notification or email at least 14 days before they take effect. Your continued use of the platform after the effective date constitutes your acknowledgement of the updated policy.

13Contact & Information Officer

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact:

Information Officer

Copus (Pty) Ltd

Registration number: 2025/443052/07

13 Shamrock Sands, 46 Hillcrest Drive

Beacon Bay, East London

Eastern Cape, South Africa

privacy@copus.co.za

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa at inforeg.org.za.

Questions? Email info@copus.co.za or use our contact form.