Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 26 May 2025

1. Introduction

South Gear Co. (“we“, “us“, or “our“) respects your right to privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA“) and all other applicable laws in the Republic of South Africa. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you interact with us, whether through our website, physical operations, or any other communication channels.

2. Who We Are

South Gear Co. is a South African company specialising in the sale, rental, and servicing of heavy machinery and material handling solutions, including but not limited to forklifts, backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders, and telescopic handlers.

3. Scope of the Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to:

Customers and prospective customers
Suppliers and service providers
Website visitors
Job applicants
Any individual whose personal information we process

4. What Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

4.1. Identifiable Information

Full name
Company name
Identity number or registration number
Physical and postal address
Contact details (phone number, email address)

4.2. Technical Information

IP address
Browser type
Operating system
Website usage data via cookies and analytics tools

4.3. Financial Information

Bank account details
VAT numbers
Payment history

4.4. Employment Information

CVs
Qualifications
Employment history
References

5. How We Collect Information

We collect information:

Directly from you via forms, emails, telephone, and face-to-face communication
Automatically through our website via cookies
From third parties where legally permitted (e.g., credit bureaus, references)

6. Purposes of Processing

We process your personal information for the following purposes:

To provide goods and services
Customer service and support
Account management and invoicing
Marketing and promotions (with consent)
Legal and regulatory compliance
Employment consideration (for applicants)

7. Legal Grounds for Processing

Under POPIA, we process personal information based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

Your consent
The processing is necessary to carry out actions for the conclusion or performance of a contract
Compliance with a legal obligation
Legitimate interest pursued by South Gear Co. or a third party

8. Sharing of Personal Information

We may share your information with:

Our employees and authorised representatives
Service providers and suppliers who assist us in our business operations (e.g., logistics, IT, legal, marketing)
Regulatory and government authorities where required by law
Credit bureaus and financial institutions (where applicable)

We require all third parties to respect the confidentiality and integrity of your information and to process it in accordance with applicable laws.

9. Cross-Border Transfers

Your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than South Africa. Where we do so, we will ensure that adequate protections are in place in accordance with Section 72 of POPIA.

10. Security Safeguards

We implement reasonable and appropriate technical and organisational measures to secure your personal information, including:

Access control and authentication procedures
Encryption of sensitive data
Regular cybersecurity audits and employee training
Physical security for premises and equipment

11. Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the following rights in relation to your personal information:

To be informed that your information is being collected
To request access to your personal information
To request correction or deletion
To object to processing or direct marketing
To lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 13.

12. Retention of Information

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes it was collected for, or as required by law or regulation. Thereafter, your data will be securely deleted or anonymised.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal information, you may contact:

Information Officer
South Gear Co.
31 Koekoek Street,
Haakdoringboom,
Pretoria North
0182
quintin@southgear.co.za
+27 84 601 3519

You may also contact the Information Regulator:

Information Regulator (South Africa)
Website: https://www.inforegulator.org.za
Email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za

14. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most recent version will be published on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.