Privacy notice

You don't need an account to browse. When you view a listing, a deal or an About Maftown page, or tap a button such as Call or Directions, we record:

• what kind of action it was and which listing, deal, place or person it concerned;
• which part of the site it happened on, and when;
• the address of the page you came from, with any search terms or tracking codes removed;
• a random visit identifier, explained below.

The visit identifier is a random code your browser creates and keeps in this tab's session storage, so events from one visit can be grouped. It is deleted when you close the tab and is not linked to your name or account.

These usage records don't include what you type into search, your location, or your IP address. Our application uses your IP address briefly to limit repeated requests, but doesn't save it in these records. (Our service providers handle IP addresses separately — see below.) We use the records to understand which listings and features people use.

We only ask for your location when you tap Use my location, and your browser asks your permission first. Your location is used inside your browser to show distances, sort nearby businesses first and centre the About Maftown map. It is kept in this tab's session storage until you close the tab, and is never sent to our servers or recorded in our usage records.

When the About Maftown map centres on your location, your browser loads map images for that area from our map provider, OpenFreeMap.

Anyone can use Suggest a correction or Request removal on a business page — no account is needed. We keep the message you write and, if you choose to give them, your name and email address. We use them to review your request and, if you left an email address, to reply. Your name and email are optional; without an email address we can't follow up with you. Our application uses your IP address briefly to limit repeated submissions, but doesn't save it with your request.

If you sign in to claim or manage a business, we collect:

• Your email address, to send you a one-time sign-in code. There are no passwords.
• Claim details: your name, your role at the business, a phone number and any note you add, so we can check that you're entitled to manage the listing.
• New listing requests: the business name, category, contact person, business phone number, public email address, suburb, town or city, a link to the business and any note you add.
• Changes you submit to a listing, including details, deals, special opening hours and photos. These are reviewed before they are published.

We need these details to review and act on your request — without them, we can't process it. Details you submit for publication appear on the public listing once approved.

Business listings show business details such as the name, category, description, address, phone number, email address, opening hours and photos. Some listings were compiled by Maftown Ba Kae and are marked Unclaimed until the business confirms them; others are managed by the business itself. For some listings we hold contact details that we don't publish.

About Maftown profiles of notable people and places are based on published sources, which are listed on each page. If a listing or profile is about you, you can ask us to correct or remove it — email privacy@bakae.co.za or use the links on the business page.

We don't use advertising cookies or third-party tracking.

Sign-in cookies. Our application sets cookies only when a business owner or administrator signs in. Requesting a sign-in code sets a short-lived cookie that lets this browser finish signing in; entering the code sets session cookies that keep you signed in until you sign out or the session ends. Visitors who don't sign in get no cookies from our application.

Session storage. Separately from cookies, the site keeps a few items in your browser's session storage. They belong to the current tab and are deleted when you close it:

• the random visit identifier described above, which is sent with our usage records;
• your location, only if you tapped Use my location — it stays in your browser;
• which About Maftown places you've explored during this visit — this also stays in your browser.

We use these service providers to run the site:

• Vercel hosts the website.
• Supabase provides our database and sign-in, including sending sign-in codes.
• OpenFreeMap provides the map images on the About Maftown map.

To deliver pages, data and map images, these providers receive technical information such as your IP address, and they may keep it in their own logs under their own terms. Some of them may store or process information outside South Africa. We don't sell personal information.

Buttons and links to other services — for example Google Maps directions, WhatsApp or a business's social media pages — take you to those services, which have their own privacy policies.

Under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you can ask us:

• whether we hold personal information about you, and for a copy or description of it;
• to correct or delete personal information about you;
• to stop using your personal information, by objecting to how we use it.

Email privacy@bakae.co.za with your request. We may need to confirm who you are before acting on it.

If you're not satisfied with how we handle your information, you can complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa) by emailing POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za, or see inforegulator.org.za for other ways to contact them.

If we change how we handle personal information, we'll update this page and the date at the top. For anything else, see our contact page.