PRIVACY POLICY FOR EKHAYALAKHO.COM
Last Updated:02 FEBRUARY 2026
1. INTRODUCTION
Ekhayalakho.com (“we”, “us”, “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website ekhayalakho.com, including any other media form, media channel, mobile website, or mobile application related or connected thereto (collectively, the “Site”).
We operate in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa.
Our Business Details:
- Website: https://ekhayalakho.com
- Email: info@ekhayalakho.com
- Phone: 0722185066
- Physical Address: 10167/140 Ext 2 Wesselton, Ermelo,2351
2. WHAT PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
| Type of Information | Examples | Why We Collect It |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Information | Full name, surname, South African ID number | Verify property owners, prevent fraud, comply with legal requirements |
| Contact Details | Email address, phone number, WhatsApp number | Communicate about properties, bookings, and payments |
| Property Information | Property address, photos, descriptions, pricing | List your property on our platform |
| Financial Information | Bank account details, account holder name | Pay you your 85% commission from bookings |
| Payment Information | Transaction records, payment confirmations | Process payments via PayFast and Ozow |
| Communication Records | WhatsApp chats, emails, messages | Facilitate property discussions between parties |
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
| Type of Information | Examples | Why We Collect It |
|---|---|---|
| Device Information | IP address, browser type, operating system | Improve site performance, security |
| Usage Data | Pages visited, time spent, clicks | Understand how users interact with our site |
| Cookies | Session cookies, preference cookies | Remember your preferences, improve experience |
3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We use your personal information for these specific purposes:
3.1 Core Platform Services
? To list your properties on Ekhayalakho.com
? To connect property owners with potential buyers/renters
? To process room bookings for guesthouses, spas, and B&Bs
? To facilitate tailored room bookings
? To process farm sales and purchases
? To enable WhatsApp communication between parties
3.2 Payment Processing
? To process listing fees (via PayFast/Ozow)
? To process booking payments (via Dokan)
? To calculate and deduct our 15% commission for bookings made through our platform
? To pay property owners their 85% share automatically
? To handle refunds and disputes
3.3 Communication
? To send booking confirmations
? To notify you of new inquiries
? To send payout notifications
? To respond to your support requests
? To send important updates about our services
3.4 Legal and Security
? To verify your identity using SA ID documents
? To prevent fraud and unauthorized transactions
? To comply with POPIA and other South African laws
? To resolve disputes between users
? To enforce our Terms of Service
4. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING (POPIA)
Under POPIA, we process your information based on:
| Legal Basis | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Consent | You agreed when signing up and using our services |
| Contract | Processing is necessary to provide our listing/booking services |
| Legal Obligation | We must comply with South African laws |
| Legitimate Interest | To operate our business and prevent fraud |
5. WHO WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH
5.1 Payment Processors
| Provider | What We Share | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PayFas/tOzow | Payment amount, transaction details | Process listing fee payments |
| Dokan | Payment amount, transaction details, bank details (for payouts) | Process booking payments and owner payouts (85% commission) |
5.2 Service Providers
| Provider | What We Share | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger/WordPress | Website data, backups | Web hosting services |
| WhatsApp/Facebook/Instagram/X/Youtube | Phone numbers, chat history | Enable WhatsApp communication feature |
5.3 Other Users
| Recipient | What We Share | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Property Buyers/Tenants | Property details, contact information (with your consent) | Facilitate property transactions |
| Property Owners | Your contact info (if you’re inquiring about their property) | Enable direct communication |
5.4 Legal Authorities
We may share information if required by law, court order, or government authority.
We NEVER sell your personal information to third parties.
6. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER POPIA
As a South African user, you have the following rights:
6.1 Right to Access
You can request a copy of all personal information we hold about you.
6.2 Right to Correction
You can ask us to correct inaccurate or outdated information.
6.3 Right to Deletion
You can request deletion of your information (subject to legal retention requirements).
6.4 Right to Object
You can object to how we process your information.
6.5 Right to Complain
You can lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator:
Information Regulator (South Africa)
- Website: https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/
- Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
- Phone: 010 023 5200
7. HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS
To exercise any of these rights:
Email: info@ekhayalakho.com
Subject Line: “POPIA Request – Ace Soko
We will respond within 30 days as required by law.
8. DATA SECURITY
We implement these security measures:
? SSL Encryption (https://) – all data encrypted in transit
? Secure Hosting with Hostinger – firewalls and monitoring
? Bank-grade Encryption for financial data
? Limited Access – only authorized personnel
? Regular Backups – to prevent data loss
? Secure Payment Gateways – PayFas,Ozow and Dokan are PCI compliant
While we take every precaution, no online transmission is 100% secure.
9. DATA RETENTION
We keep your information for:
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Account Information | Until you delete your account |
| Property Listings | Until you remove the listing |
| Transaction Records | 5 years (tax and legal requirements) |
| Communication Logs | 2 years |
| Deleted Accounts | 30 days (then permanently deleted) |
10. COOKIES AND TRACKING
10.1 What Cookies We Use
| Cookie Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Essential Cookies | Keep you logged in, remember your session |
| Preference Cookies | Remember your settings and preferences |
| Analytics Cookies | Understand how you use our site (Google Analytics) |
10.2 How to Control Cookies
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some site features may not work properly.
11. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY
Our services are not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from minors.
12. THIRD-PARTY LINKS
Our site may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.
13. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this policy periodically. The “Last Updated” date at the top shows when changes were made. Continued use of our site means you accept the updated policy.
14. SPECIFIC TO EKHAYALAKHO SERVICES
14.1 For Property Owners Listing Properties
When you list a property:
- Your property details become public
- Your contact info is shared with serious inquirers
- We collect your ID for verification
- We store bank details to automatically pay your share
14.2 For Guesthouses, Spas & B&Bs
When you use our booking system:
- Guest payments are processed via Dokan
- We automatically deduct 15% commission
- You receive 85% automatically after check-in
- Guest details are shared only for the booking
14.3 For Users Making Inquiries
When you inquire about a property:
- Your contact details are shared with the property owner
- WhatsApp conversations may be stored
- You may receive property updates
15. CONTACT INFORMATION
For Privacy Questions or Requests:
Privacy Officer: Ace Soko
Email: iinfo@ekhayalakho.com
Phone: 0722185066
Address: 10167/140
For Data Breach Reporting:
If you suspect a data breach, contact us immediately at [your emergency contact email].
16. CONSENT
By using Ekhayalakho.com, you consent to this Privacy Policy.
If you do not agree, please do not use our services.
17. GOVERNING LAW
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
This Privacy Policy was created for ekhayalakho.com on 16 December 2024 and complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013.
