Privacy Policy

Who we are

The NRF Chair in City-Region Economies (CCRE) is hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS). This notice explains how we collect, use, share and protect personal information, in line with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). It applies to all forms on this website and to personal information we handle in the ordinary course of the Chair’s business.

Information we collect

We only collect the information you give us. Through the newsletter sign-up we collect your first name, surname, email address, and (optionally) occupation, organisation and country. Through the contact form we collect your name, email address and message. In the ordinary course of business we may also hold correspondence, event registrations and similar records you provide to us.

How we use your information

We use your information to send you the newsletter and occasional updates (where you have consented), to respond to your enquiries, to administer events you register for, and to carry out the Chair’s research, teaching and public-engagement activities. We do not use it for automated decision-making or profiling.

Lawful basis

We rely on your consent for sending you marketing and newsletter communications — you can withdraw this at any time. For responding to enquiries and conducting our legitimate activities we rely on legitimate interest and, where relevant, the performance of a request you have made.

Sharing your information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share it with the UFS as our host institution, and with trusted service providers who process data on our behalf (for example, an email/newsletter platform) under appropriate agreements. We may also disclose information where required by law.

Cross-border transfers

Some of our service providers (for example, an email or newsletter platform) may store or process information outside South Africa. Where this happens, we take reasonable steps — consistent with POPIA (section 72) — to ensure your information continues to receive an adequate level of protection, for example through contractual safeguards or because the recipient is subject to comparable data-protection laws.

Cookies and analytics

This website uses only the cookies necessary for it to function. If analytics or third-party embeds (such as event recordings) are added in future, this notice will be updated to describe them.

How long we keep it

We keep your information only for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected, or as required by law. You can unsubscribe from communications or ask us to delete your details at any time.

Your rights

Under POPIA you have the right to access the personal information we hold about you, to ask us to correct or delete it, to object to its processing, and to withdraw your consent. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) — website www.inforegulator.org.za, complaints by POPIA Form 5 to POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za.

Contact us about your information

For any privacy request or question, or to reach the Information Officer, please use the contact details on our Contact page.

Changes to this notice

We may update this notice from time to time. The date of the latest version is shown above.