Legal
Privacy Policy
SoberScience · soberscience.co.za
Contact: hello@soberscience.co.za
1. Who We Are
This Privacy Policy applies to the website soberscience.co.za and services provided under the SoberScience brand by The Counselling Council (Pty) Ltd.
The Counselling Council (Pty) Ltd is the responsible party for the purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
SoberScience provides private, CBT-informed behavioural coaching and personal development support for adults in South Africa. Our work focuses on structured behaviour change, personal accountability, routine-building, decision-making, lifestyle design and long-term self-improvement.
Certain operational and administrative functions are fulfilled by its associated entity, BodyBack (Pty) Ltd, Reg. 2017/233179/07, 1st Floor, Bryanston Shopping Centre, 15 Ballyclare Drive, Bryanston, Gauteng, 2120. For those limited functions, BodyBack acts as an operator under POPIA and processes information only where required to support SoberScience operations.
Contact: hello@soberscience.co.za
2. What Personal Information We Collect
2.1 Information you provide directly
This may include:
- First name
- Phone number
- Email address
- General enquiry details selected through website forms
- Information you choose to include in free-text fields
- Messages or documents sent by email, WhatsApp, phone or SMS
- Information provided through enquiry, onboarding, consultation, client or careers forms
2.2 Information collected automatically
When you use our website, we may collect limited technical information, including:
- IP address
- Browser type and device information
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Referring URL and date and time of visit
This information helps us understand how visitors use our website and how we can improve the user experience.
3. Why We Collect Your Information
3.1 To respond to your enquiry
We use your name, phone number, email address and enquiry details to respond to messages or form submissions you send to us.
3.2 To deliver and coordinate our services
If you become a client, we may use your information to onboard you, communicate with you, coordinate coaching sessions, manage schedules and provide structured support.
3.3 To manage billing and administration
We may use your information for billing, administration and record-keeping.
3.4 To improve our website and services
We may use website usage information and general enquiry trends to improve our website, communication and service offering.
3.5 To consider job or contractor applications
If you apply through a careers form, we use your information to assess your suitability. Unsuccessful applications are retained for a maximum of 12 months.
Our lawful bases for processing may include your consent, performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations, and our legitimate interests, balanced against your rights under POPIA.
We do not use your personal information for purposes unrelated to those described in this policy unless legally permitted or you have given consent.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We do not share it with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
We may share information only where necessary with trusted parties who help us operate and deliver our services. This may include:
- Coaches, consultants and support team members assigned to your programme
- Administrative and operational staff
- Website hosting, email and communication providers
- CRM, scheduling and client management tools
- Payment, accounting and invoicing providers
- Cloud storage and document management providers
- Professional advisers, where necessary
- Regulators, authorities or legal parties, where required by law
These parties may only process information for the purpose for which it was shared and are required to handle it confidentially.
5. Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information
Some of our service providers may process or store information outside South Africa. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with POPIA.
6. Cookies and Website Technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to help the site function properly, understand general website usage and measure website performance.
You can adjust your browser settings to decline or delete cookies. Some parts of the website may not function properly if certain cookies are disabled.
7. Your Rights Under POPIA
As a data subject, you have the following rights:
- Right to be informedYou have the right to know when we collect your information, why we collect it, and who may have access to it.
- Right to accessYou may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Right to correctionYou may request that we correct inaccurate, outdated or incomplete information.
- Right to deletionYou may request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal, contractual or record-keeping obligations.
- Right to objectYou may object to the processing of your personal information where POPIA allows.
- Right to withdraw consentWhere we rely on consent, you may withdraw it, subject to legal or contractual limitations.
- Right to complainYou may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your information has been processed unlawfully.
To exercise any right, contact: hello@soberscience.co.za. We will respond within a reasonable period and in accordance with POPIA.
8. How Long We Keep Your Information
| Category | Retention | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry / contact form submissions | 12 months | Deleted if no engagement |
| Active client records | Programme + 5 years | Contractual and record-keeping |
| Former client records | 5 years from end | Legal and dispute resolution |
| Unsuccessful job applications | 12 months | Future opportunity consideration |
| Website analytics and technical data | Up to 26 months | Website performance |
We may retain information for longer where required by law, to resolve disputes, or where a legitimate operational reason exists.
9. Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. These may include access controls, secure storage, confidentiality requirements and appropriate use of trusted service providers.
10. Children's Privacy
Our services are intended for adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from persons under 18. If you believe a person under 18 has provided us with personal information, contact hello@soberscience.co.za.
11. Complaints
If you believe your POPIA rights have been violated, contact us first at hello@soberscience.co.za.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating this policy.
13. Contact
Operating SoberScience · soberscience.co.za
Email: hello@soberscience.co.za
This policy was prepared with POPIA in mind. It does not constitute legal advice.