Last updated: 8 November 2026
Who we are
This policy explains how HostSA (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2022/450340/07, trading as HostSA.net (“HostSA”, “we”), of M5 Park, Eastman Road, Maitland, Western Cape 7405, South Africa, collects, uses and protects personal information, as required by the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). We are the responsible party for the personal information described here.
Information officer
As POPIA provides, the head of HostSA (Pty) Ltd is our information officer. You can reach the information officer at support@hostsa.net (please put “POPIA request” in the subject line) or by post at the address above.
Information we collect
- Account details: name, company name, email address, phone number and billing address.
- Billing records: invoices, payments and payment references. Card details are entered on our payment providers' secure pages; we don't store full card numbers.
- Domain registrant details that registries require to register a domain in your name.
- Technical data: IP addresses, browser type and server logs needed to run and secure our services.
- Messages you send us by email, support ticket or contact form.
- Content you host with us. We store it to provide the service but don't look at it, except to investigate abuse or when the law requires it.
Why we use it
We process personal information only for these purposes, and only as much as we need:
- To set up, provide, support and bill for the services you order (performance of our contract with you).
- To register, renew and transfer domains with the relevant registries.
- To keep our network and systems secure, prevent fraud and investigate abuse (our legitimate interest).
- To meet our legal obligations, including tax and VAT record keeping.
- To send you service and billing messages about your account.
- To send marketing, but only if you've agreed to it. Every marketing email has an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time.
Information sent outside South Africa
Our website and billing system run on servers in Finland, in the European Union, and some of the providers above process information in other countries. We only use providers in countries with laws that give a level of protection similar to POPIA, such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, or that are bound by agreements requiring them to protect your information, as section 72 of POPIA requires.
How long we keep it
We keep personal information while your account is active. After you close your account, we keep billing and tax records for up to seven years, because South African tax and company law requires it, and delete or anonymise the rest when we no longer need it. Backups are overwritten on a rolling basis.
How we protect it
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, damage and unauthorised access, including encrypted (HTTPS) connections, hashed passwords, restricted staff access and bot protection on our forms. If we become aware of a security compromise that affects your personal information, we'll notify you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.
Your rights
Under POPIA you have the right to:
- ask whether we hold personal information about you, and ask for a copy;
- ask us to correct or update it;
- ask us to delete it, where we don't need to keep it by law;
- object to processing based on our legitimate interests, and to direct marketing at any time;
- withdraw consent you've given us.
Email the information officer to make a request. We'll respond within a reasonable time, normally within 30 days, and may ask you to confirm your identity first. You can update most account details yourself in the client area.
Complaints
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, please contact us first so we can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa): inforegulator.org.za, email enquiries@inforegulator.org.za.
Children
Our services are for businesses and adults. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We'll post the new version here and change the date at the top, and tell you by email about any significant change.
Contact
HostSA (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2022/450340/07, trading as HostSA.net
M5 Park, Eastman Road, Maitland, Western Cape 7405, South Africa
Email: support@hostsa.net