1. Who we are
Joppa Africa (“Joppa”, “we”, “us” or “our”) operates a discovery and connection platform that helps customers find nearby available workers, tradespeople and contractors and connect with them through WhatsApp.
Privacy contact:
Joppa Africa
Email: andre@pxo.co.za
Contact WhatsApp: +27 76 893 7420
2. South African privacy framework
Joppa intends to process personal information in accordance with applicable South African data-protection law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPIA”). This includes processing information for specific lawful purposes, limiting collection to what is reasonably necessary, taking appropriate security measures, and respecting applicable data-subject rights.
3. Personal information we may collect
Account and identity information
- WhatsApp/mobile number;
- first name and surname;
- account status and registration information;
- profile photograph;
- identification documentation supplied to Joppa.
Worker profile information
- skills and services offered;
- rates and pricing options;
- availability status;
- transport information;
- tools and equipment information;
- work photographs;
- introduction video and any audio contained in it;
- other profile information a worker chooses to provide.
Location information
- worker location coordinates when a worker chooses to provide location;
- a customer’s temporary search/job location used to find nearby workers;
- derived distance or proximity information.
Exact worker GPS coordinates are used for matching and operational purposes and are not intended to be publicly displayed to customers.
Platform activity
- records that a customer connected with a worker through Joppa;
- ratings, review comments and rating status;
- referral/invitation information;
- messages and system interactions necessary to operate WhatsApp-based flows;
- general enquiries sent to the Joppa number where they are classified for human follow-up;
- timestamps, security records, error logs and other technical information reasonably necessary to operate and protect the service.
4. Where we obtain information
Most personal information is provided directly by you through WhatsApp, Joppa web pages, profile forms, media uploads and your use of the service. We may also create operational records from your use of Joppa, such as connection, referral, rating and technical records. Where you provide information about another person, you must have a lawful basis and authority to do so.
5. Why we process personal information
We may process personal information where necessary and lawful to register and maintain accounts; create and display worker profiles; match customers and workers by skill, availability and proximity; facilitate direct WhatsApp connections; operate ratings, reviews, referrals and invitations; store private identity documentation for legitimate administration and safety purposes; process uploaded media; respond to enquiries; detect misuse, fraud and security threats; moderate content; administer account restrictions; improve platform operation; comply with law; and establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
6. Information visible to other users
Depending on your role and profile, other Joppa users may see information intended for public discovery, such as your first name, profile photograph, skills, rates, availability, approximate distance, transport/tools indicators, work photographs, introduction video, ratings and reviews.
Joppa does not intend to publicly display a worker’s exact GPS coordinates, private identity document, identity-document number or private administrative information.
When a customer chooses to contact a worker, the direct WhatsApp conversation may reveal the parties’ WhatsApp information in accordance with WhatsApp’s operation and their own WhatsApp settings.
7. Identification documents
Identification documents are treated as private administrative records and are not intended to be shown to customers. Access should be limited to authorised Joppa administration where reasonably necessary. The presence of an identification document on Joppa does not mean that Joppa has verified, certified or endorsed the worker unless Joppa expressly introduces a separate verification process and says so.
8. Photos, videos and media processing
Joppa may resize, compress, convert or transcode uploaded media to make the service faster and more reliable. This technical processing does not transfer ownership of your content to Joppa.
9. Service providers and recipients
Joppa may use service providers where reasonably necessary to operate the platform, including hosting/infrastructure providers, database and storage services, WhatsApp messaging providers, telecommunications providers and other technical suppliers. WhatsApp communications are also subject to the privacy practices and terms of WhatsApp and relevant messaging providers.
We may disclose information where required by law, lawful authority or court process, or where reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, security or prevent fraud. We do not sell users’ personal information as a data-broker service.
10. Cross-border processing
Some technology, hosting, messaging or service providers may process or route information outside South Africa. Where personal information is transferred across borders, Joppa will seek to do so in accordance with applicable POPIA requirements and with appropriate safeguards where required.
11. Retention
Joppa keeps personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, legitimate operational or safety requirements, dispute or fraud prevention, and applicable legal obligations. Different information may require different retention periods. Where information is no longer reasonably required and no lawful reason requires continued retention, it should be deleted, destroyed or de-identified appropriately.
12. Security
Joppa uses reasonable technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against loss, unauthorised access, misuse, alteration or disclosure. Measures may include HTTPS, access controls, private storage for sensitive media, restricted administrative access, application security controls and operational monitoring. No internet or electronic system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
13. Your choices and rights
Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have rights to ask whether Joppa holds personal information about you; request access; request correction of inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out-of-date, incomplete or misleading information; request deletion or destruction where legal requirements are met; object to certain processing on lawful grounds; withdraw consent where processing depends on consent; opt out of qualifying direct marketing; and lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
We may need to verify your identity before acting on an access, correction or deletion request, particularly where sensitive information is involved.
14. Required and optional information
Some information is required for a particular Joppa function. A WhatsApp number is necessary for the WhatsApp-first account model, and worker location is necessary for proximity-based worker discovery. Other profile information may be optional. If required information is not provided, the relevant feature may not work or the profile may not be eligible for discovery.
15. Children
Joppa is intended for users aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly offer worker/customer accounts to children. If we learn that a child has registered contrary to this requirement, we may restrict the account and take appropriate steps regarding the information.
16. Cookies, sessions and technical data
The Joppa website and web-based account flows may use session cookies or similar technical mechanisms necessary for authentication, security, navigation and reliable operation. Joppa may also maintain server logs and related technical records for security, diagnostics and service operation.
17. Direct marketing
If Joppa sends direct marketing, we will do so subject to applicable law and will provide applicable choices or opt-out mechanisms. Operational messages needed to provide or secure the service are different from marketing messages.
18. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when Joppa’s services, data practices or legal obligations change. The current version and effective date will be published on the website. Material changes may also be communicated to registered users or require renewed acknowledgement where appropriate.
19. Complaints and contact
Please contact Joppa first if you have a privacy question, correction request or complaint:
Joppa Africa
Email: andre@pxo.co.za
Contact WhatsApp: +27 76 893 7420
You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.