Privacy Policy

Introduction

At Schematech (Pty) Ltd (“Schematech,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), we are committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our customers, suppliers, employees, and other individuals we interact with (“you” or “data subjects”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, process, and protect your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA), South Africa’s data protection law.

We operate in the architectural glass fittings and bathroom accessories industry, providing innovative products, technical support, and related services. This policy applies to all personal information we process through our website (schematech.co.za), business operations, and interactions with you.

1. Who We Are

Schematech (Pty) Ltd is a South African company established in 2010, specializing in architectural glass fittings, bathroom accessories, and related hardware solutions. Our registered address is 16 Kyalami Blvd, Khayalami Park, Midrand, 1684, and you can contact us at info@schematech.co.za or 011 452 7515.

For POPIA purposes, Schematech is the “Responsible Party” determining the purpose and means of processing your personal information. Our appointed Information Officer is Matthew Churchyard reachable at matthew@schematech.co.za

2. What Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information necessary for our business operations and to provide you with our products and services. Depending on your relationship with us (e.g., customer, supplier, or website visitor), we may collect:

Identity Information: Name, company name, job title, ID number (if required for specific transactions).
Contact Information: Email address, phone number and physical address.
Transactional Information: Order details, payment information, delivery preferences.
Business-Related Information: Supplier agreements, technical support requests, or Credit line records.

We collect this information directly from you (e.g., when you place an order, contact us, or complete a form).

3. How We Collect Your Information

We collect your personal information in the following ways:

Directly from You: When you purchase products, request technical support, sign up for training, or contact us via phone, email, or our website.

Providing your personal information is voluntary unless required by law or necessary to fulfill a contract (e.g., delivering your order). We will inform you if certain information is mandatory and the consequences of not providing it, such as, not being able to provide the services as requested.

4. Why We Process Your Information

We process your personal information for specific, lawful purposes, including:

To process and fulfill orders for architectural glass fittings and bathroom accessories.
To provide technical support, training, or software solutions related to our products.
To manage customer and supplier relationships, including invoicing and payments.
To respond to inquiries or complaints submitted via schematech.co.za or other channels.
To comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax laws, consumer protection regulations).
To send marketing communications (only with your consent—see Section 8).
To ensure the security of our systems and prevent fraud.

We only process your information where we have a lawful basis under POPIA, such as your consent, contractual necessity, legal obligation, or our legitimate interests (provided they do not override your rights).

4.1 Third Party Information Sharing for Credit Lines

If you (the customer) request a credit line with Schematech, you will be required to complete a credit application form. Upon submission of this form, we will share your personal information with a third-party credit provider to assess your creditworthiness and facilitate the credit agreement. This may include sharing your identity information (e.g., name, ID number), contact details, and transactional history with us. We will only share this information with your explicit consent, as provided through the completed form, or as necessary to fulfill the credit arrangement. The third-party credit provider is required to process your information in compliance with POPIA.

We only process and share your information where we have a lawful basis under POPIA, such as your consent, contractual necessity, legal obligation, or our legitimate interests (provided they do not override your rights).

5. How We Protect Your Information

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorized access, loss, damage, or misuse. These measures include:

Secure storage of physical and digital records.
Encryption of sensitive data (e.g. customer information, order details, payment details).
Access controls limiting who can view your information.
Regular security assessments of our systems.
Storage of digital data in a POPI, GDPR or country with similar data protection laws only as specified under POPIA, Section 72.
Regular Backups

In the event of a data breach that possess a risk to your rights, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as required by POPIA, without undue delay.

6. Sharing Your Information

We may share your personal information with:

Service Providers: Delivery companies, payment processors, or IT support providers acting as “Operators” under POPIA, bound by confidentiality agreements.
Business Partners: Suppliers or distributors involved in fulfilling your order.
Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect our rights.
Third Parties: Only with your explicit consent, unless otherwise permitted by POPIA.

If your information is transferred outside South Africa (e.g., to an international supplier), we ensure the recipient complies with POPIA’s standards or equivalent protections under Section 72 (e.g., through binding agreements).

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

As a data subject, you have the following rights:

To be Informed: Know when and why we collect your information (as outlined here).
Access: Request confirmation of whether we hold your information and obtain a copy of it.
Correction: Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Deletion: Request the deletion of your information, where lawful (e.g., if no longer needed).
Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
Restriction: Request we restrict processing in certain cases (e.g., while a correction is pending).
Data Portability: Receive your information in a structured format (where applicable).
Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe we’ve violated POPIA.

To exercise these rights, contact our Information Officer at matthew@schematech.co.za. We will respond within a reasonable time, as per POPIA requirements.

8. Direct Marketing

We may send you marketing communications about our products, services, or promotions (e.g., new glass fittings or training sessions) via email, or phone. We will only do so:

If you have given prior consent (opt-in); or
If you are an existing customer, provided you have not opted out.

You may opt out of marketing at any time by clicking “unsubscribe” in emails or contacting us at matthew@schematech.co.za

9. Cookies and Website Tracking

Our website, schematech.co.za, uses cookies to enhance your experience, analyse usage, and improve functionality. For details, see our separate Cookie Policy. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent tool.

10. How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax records for 5 years under the Tax Administration Act), or resolve disputes. Once no longer needed, we archive your data for secure long term storage.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will be posted on schematech.co.za. Significant changes that impact you will be communicated to you directly where required.

12. Contact Us

For questions, requests, or complaints about your personal information, contact our Information Officer:

Name: Matthew Churchyard
Email: matthew@schematech.co.za