Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

IfaLami Preparedness System is operated by TECHSMART SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD, registration number 2023/983817/07, South Africa. In this policy, “IfaLami”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to that company when it operates IfaLami.

2. What this policy covers

This policy applies to the IfaLami website, preparedness assessment, WhatsApp service, accounts, trusted contacts and vault features. It explains how we handle personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

3. Information we collect

We may collect your name, WhatsApp number, email address, account details, selected plan, payment status, support messages, activity dates and instructions. If you use the vault, we process the documents and personal messages you choose to store. These may contain identity, family, financial or health information. We also process the names, contact details and responses of trusted contacts you nominate.

We process technical records needed to run and secure the service, such as timestamps, error records and information generated by our hosting systems. Do not give us banking passwords, card PINs or one-time banking codes.

4. Preparedness assessment

The assessment stores your selected answers, calculated result, priority areas, questionnaire version, timestamps and assessment reference. We may also record that an assessment was started, completed or restarted, that results were viewed, or that the WhatsApp link was selected.

The current assessment can be completed without entering your name. It is not guaranteed to remain anonymous: if you send the prepared WhatsApp message containing your assessment reference, we may link the assessment to your WhatsApp identity. The browser also uses session storage so the assessment can work during your visit.

5. How we use information

We use information to provide and secure IfaLami, calculate assessment results, administer accounts and payments, store and retrieve content, respond to support requests, manage trusted contacts, carry out your sharing instructions, prevent misuse and comply with law. We process information only where we have an appropriate lawful basis, such as your consent, performing our agreement, taking steps you request before an agreement, meeting a legal duty or pursuing a legitimate interest that does not unfairly override your rights.

6. Trusted contacts and vault release

A trusted contact does not automatically receive access to your vault. We contact nominated people only as needed to manage their role, verify a request or deliver information you authorised.

Inactivity or a report of death starts a verification process; it does not cause automatic release. We must review the available evidence and your instructions before releasing documents or messages. A missed message, failed payment, lost phone or claim by one person is not proof of death. We may pause release where information conflicts, authority is unclear or fraud is suspected. You may change trusted contacts or disable inactivity checks while we can verify that the request comes from you. We cannot reliably recall a copy after it has been delivered.

7. Service providers and overseas processing

We use service providers to operate IfaLami. These may include Supabase for assessment records, WhatsApp/Meta and SendPulse for messaging, Microsoft cloud services including OneDrive for vault storage, Vercel for website hosting, and the payment provider identified at checkout. Providers receive information needed for their role and may also process limited information under their own terms.

Some information may be processed outside South Africa. Where POPIA requires it, we use an appropriate safeguard or permitted basis for the transfer. We do not sell personal information or use vault content for advertising.

8. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards appropriate to the information and risks. Access is limited to people and providers who need it for service, support, verification, security or legal purposes. A PIN is an access control, but no online service can guarantee absolute security. Keep your device, WhatsApp account and access details secure and tell us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access.

9. Retention and deletion

We keep information only for as long as reasonably needed to provide the service, carry out instructions, maintain security, resolve disputes or meet legal duties. Account and vault information is normally kept while the service is active. After account closure, we aim to delete it within 90 days unless a lawful reason requires limited records to be kept longer. Protected backup copies expire through our normal backup cycle. Assessment, verification, delivery and payment records are kept only for an appropriate period based on their purpose and legal requirements. Deletion from IfaLami cannot remove copies already received by another person.

10. Your choices and rights

Subject to applicable law, you may ask whether we hold your information, request access or correction, ask for deletion, object to relevant processing, withdraw consent and object to direct marketing. You may also change trusted contacts, pause future sharing or close your account. We may need to verify your identity and may retain information where the law allows or requires it.

Email hello@ifalami.co.za or send “PRIVACY REQUEST” in your IfaLami WhatsApp conversation. You may also complain to the Information Regulator through the Information Regulator eServices portal.

11. Children and other people’s information

Accounts are intended for adults aged 18 or older. Only provide another person’s information when you are entitled to do so, use the minimum needed and tell them about this policy where appropriate. Additional legal requirements may apply to children’s information and health or other special personal information.

12. Incidents and policy changes

If personal information is accessed or acquired by an unauthorised person, we will investigate and notify the Information Regulator and affected people where POPIA requires it. We may update this policy as IfaLami develops. We will publish the new effective date and notify account holders of material changes through WhatsApp or another available contact channel.