Privacy Policy

Data Controller / Responsible Party

Sawubona Guesthouse
23 Seestrand Way
Beachview, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Eastern Cape, 6070
South Africa

Email: welcome@sawubona-guesthouse.co.za

For purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), Sawubona Guesthouse acts as the Responsible Party in respect of personal information processed in connection with our accommodation, booking and guest services.

Collected Personal Data

We may collect and process personal information that is reasonably necessary to manage reservations and provide our accommodation services, including:

Full name and surname

Email address and telephone number

Residential or billing address, where required

Identification or passport information where reasonably required for identification, registration or legal compliance

Nationality and country of residence where required for guest registration

Booking details, including arrival and departure dates, number of guests and room preferences

Payment and transaction information

Information supplied through booking platforms such as Booking.com, Airbnb or other reservation partners

Vehicle registration information where required for access or security purposes

Special requests voluntarily supplied by guests, including dietary or accessibility requirements

Communications between guests and Sawubona Guesthouse

Website information such as IP address, device/browser information and cookies where applicable

CCTV images where CCTV surveillance is used for legitimate safety and security purposes

We do not intentionally collect personal information that is not reasonably required for our accommodation services.

Purpose for Collecting Data

Sawubona Guesthouse processes personal information for legitimate accommodation and business purposes, including:

Receiving, confirming and administering reservations

Guest registration, check-in and check-out

Communicating with guests before, during and after their stay

Processing payments, deposits, refunds and invoices

Providing requested accommodation, breakfast and other guest services

Managing cancellations, booking amendments and special requests

Maintaining appropriate security and protecting guests, staff and property

Complying with applicable South African legal, accounting, tax and regulatory requirements

Maintaining business and transaction records where legally required

Handling complaints, disputes, insurance matters and legal claims

Preventing fraud, misuse of the property and unauthorised access

Improving our accommodation services and website

Sending marketing communications only where permitted by applicable law and subject to the guest's right to opt out

Personal information will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected, for a compatible purpose, or where further processing is permitted or required by South African law.

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 17 August 2026

Sawubona Guesthouse respects the privacy of its guests, prospective guests and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, processed, stored and protected in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) and other applicable laws of the Republic of South Africa.

1. Responsible Party

For purposes of POPIA, Sawubona Guesthouse is responsible for determining how and why personal information relating to its accommodation services is processed.

Contact:

Sawubona Guesthouse
23 Seestrand Way
Beachview, Gqeberha
Eastern Cape, 6070
South Africa
Email: welcome@sawubona-guesthouse.co.za

2. Lawful Processing

We will process personal information only where there is a lawful and reasonable basis for doing so. This may include processing necessary to conclude or perform a booking or accommodation agreement, compliance with a legal obligation, protection of legitimate interests, or processing based on the guest's consent where consent is required.

We endeavour to collect only information that is adequate, relevant and reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is processed.

3. Booking Platforms and Third Parties

Where a reservation is made through an external booking platform, travel agency or other service provider, personal information may be supplied to us by that provider.

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to trusted service providers such as:

Booking and reservation platforms

Payment service providers and banks

Accounting and financial service providers

Website hosting and IT providers

Professional advisers

Insurers

Government authorities, regulators or law-enforcement authorities where disclosure is required or permitted by law

Service providers are expected to process personal information only for legitimate purposes and subject to appropriate confidentiality and security requirements.

We do not sell guests' personal information.

4. Payment Information

Payments may be processed by third-party payment service providers. Sawubona Guesthouse does not intentionally retain complete payment card details where these are processed directly by a secure third-party payment provider.

Transaction records may nevertheless be retained where required for accounting, tax, dispute-resolution or other legitimate purposes.

5. Retention of Information

Personal information will not be retained for longer than reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless retention is required or permitted by applicable South African law or is reasonably required for contractual, accounting, tax, insurance or legal purposes.

Information that is no longer required will, where appropriate, be securely deleted, destroyed or de-identified.

6. Security

Sawubona Guesthouse takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, misuse or destruction.

Access to guest information is limited, as far as reasonably practicable, to persons who require access for legitimate operational purposes.

7. Data Breaches

Where a security compromise involving personal information occurs, Sawubona Guesthouse will take appropriate steps in accordance with POPIA, including notification to the Information Regulator and affected persons where required by law.

8. International Transfers

Some booking, payment, hosting or technology providers may process information outside South Africa.

Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, Sawubona Guesthouse will take reasonable steps to ensure that the transfer is permitted in accordance with POPIA and that appropriate protection is provided.

9. Direct Marketing

We will only use personal information for electronic direct marketing where permitted by POPIA.

Guests may unsubscribe or object to marketing communications at any time. Requests to unsubscribe will be respected without affecting communications that are necessary to manage an existing reservation or accommodation relationship.

10. Cookies and Website Information

Our website may use essential cookies required for its operation and may use analytics or other non-essential cookies where applicable.

Where legally required, consent will be requested before non-essential cookies or similar tracking technologies are activated.

11. Your Rights

Subject to POPIA and other applicable laws, a person may request:

Confirmation of whether we hold personal information about them

Access to their personal information

Correction of inaccurate or outdated information

Deletion or destruction of information where legally permissible

Objection to certain processing activities

Withdrawal of consent where processing is based upon consent

Requests may be submitted to:

welcome@sawubona-guesthouse.co.za

We may request reasonable proof of identity before providing access to, correcting or deleting personal information.

12. Complaints

Guests who believe their personal information has been processed unlawfully may first contact Sawubona Guesthouse so that the matter can be investigated.

A data subject also has the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa in accordance with POPIA.

13. Applicable Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.

Subject to any statutory rights or jurisdiction of the Information Regulator or other competent authority, disputes relating to this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

14. Changes to this Policy

Sawubona Guesthouse may update this Privacy Policy where necessary to reflect changes in legislation, business operations, technology or the manner in which personal information is processed.

The latest version will be published on our website.