Information we collect

When you use Pelorina, we collect a small amount of information so that the site can function, stay secure and improve. This section explains what types of data we handle, where it comes from and how it relates to your use of information about social help for pensioners.

• When you browse the site, we automatically receive limited technical information from your device and browser. This may include your IP address, general location, device type, operating system, pages visited, time and date of access and similar usage details. We use this data to keep the site secure, to diagnose technical problems and, in aggregated form, to understand which pages about social help for pensioners are most visited or where people seem to leave.
• If you choose to contact us, we collect the details you provide, such as your name, email address, phone number, message topic and the content of your message. You may also share information about your situation or experience with social assistance. We use this information to respond to you, to understand common questions and, in anonymised or summarised form, to guide updates to our explanations. We ask you not to include more sensitive details than necessary in your message.
• We may receive information from third party tools that support our site, such as analytics services or embedded features. This information is usually aggregated and does not identify you directly, but it can show patterns of use, such as how long visitors stay on a page or which links they click. We use these insights to improve navigation, wording and structure so that the guidance feels clearer and more useful.
• In some cases we may combine information you provide, such as feedback about a specific page, with technical or analytical data about how that page is used. We do this to see whether changes in content lead to clearer journeys for visitors. When we analyse data in this way, we focus on trends and patterns rather than individual stories, and we keep any personal identifiers separate from the working material wherever possible.

How we use your information

You come to Pelorina mainly for information, not to hand over large amounts of personal data. When we do collect information, we use it for a small number of clear purposes: to run the site, to answer messages you send us and to understand how our pages are used so we can improve them over time.

• To provide, maintain and protect the site, including monitoring for misuse, troubleshooting technical issues and ensuring that pages about social assistance for pensioners load correctly on different devices. This use relies mainly on technical and security-related data collected automatically when you visit.
• To respond to messages you send through our contact form or other channels. We use the contact details and information you provide to answer questions, clarify explanations, consider suggestions for updates and, where appropriate, adjust our content. We may also keep a record of these interactions for reference when reviewing similar questions in future.
• To analyse how visitors use the site in aggregated or pseudonymised form. This helps us see which topics attract most attention, where people seem to stop reading and which explanations might need to be clearer. These insights guide our Listen, Trace, Translate workflow so that future visitors, including pensioners and their families, can benefit from improvements.
• To comply with legal obligations and to protect our rights and the rights of others. This may include keeping certain records for a period required by law, responding to lawful requests from authorities, or investigating potential security incidents or misuse of the site.

Legal basis for processing

Privacy laws usually ask for a clear explanation of why information is collected and on what grounds. Because Pelorina is an information site rather than a service that manages applications, our reasons are limited but still important to set out plainly.

We generally process personal data because it is necessary for our legitimate interests in running a secure, useful information site about social help for pensioners, and because those interests are balanced against your rights and expectations. For example, we have an interest in understanding which pages are most visited so we can improve them, and in protecting the site against misuse. When you send us a message, we process your details to take steps at your request by replying and considering your feedback. In some situations, we may also need to process data to comply with legal obligations, such as responding to lawful requests from authorities or handling complaints under applicable regulations.

Sharing your information

You might reasonably wonder who else sees your information once it reaches us. We keep sharing limited and focused on running this site, improving content and meeting legal requirements, and we do not sell your personal data.

• We may share personal data with carefully chosen service providers who help us operate the site, such as hosting companies, security services, analytics providers or communication tools. These providers are allowed to use your information only as needed to perform services for us and are expected to protect it appropriately. Where such providers are located outside South Africa, we take steps to ensure that any international transfers comply with applicable data protection requirements.
• We may share information when we believe it is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, respond to lawful requests from public authorities, protect our rights or the rights of others, or investigate suspected misuse of the site. In these situations we aim to limit the scope of what is shared to what is reasonably required.
• If we ever reorganise, merge or transfer parts of our activities, information about site users may be included as part of the process, subject to confidentiality and applicable law. In such a case, we would seek to ensure that any new party continues to handle your data in a manner consistent with this privacy policy or provides you with an updated explanation of its practices.

How we protect your data

We know that trust is fragile, especially when you share information online. We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against accidental loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure. These measures may include secure connections, access controls, regular reviews of who can reach which systems and careful selection of service providers. No method of transmission or storage can be completely secure, and we cannot promise absolute safety, but we work to keep risks proportionate to the simple, information-based nature of this site. If we become aware of a serious incident that affects your data, we will act in line with applicable legal requirements.

Your data protection rights

You remain at the centre of decisions about your personal data, even when your main focus is on understanding social help for pensioners. Depending on where you live and which laws apply, you may have several rights in relation to the information we hold about you. While the exact scope can vary, the core ideas are outlined here in plain language so you can see how they might apply.

• You can ask us to confirm whether we hold personal data about you and, if so, to provide a copy in a readable format, subject to certain legal limits. This is sometimes called a right of access. When you make such a request, we may need to verify your identity to protect your information from being disclosed to someone else.
• If you believe that information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you can ask us to correct or update it. Where appropriate, you can also request that we restrict how the data is used while we check its accuracy or consider another request you have made regarding your rights.
• In some circumstances, you may ask us to delete personal data we hold about you, for example where it is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected, or where you withdraw consent for optional processing. Legal obligations or legitimate interests may mean we cannot delete everything immediately, but we will explain our reasoning where we must keep certain records.
• Where we rely on legitimate interests for processing, you may object to that use if you feel it affects your rights and freedoms. You can also object to certain types of direct electronic communication, although Pelorina does not focus on marketing messages. In addition, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority if you are unhappy with how we handle your information.

Cookies and similar technologies

Like many sites, we use cookies and similar tools to keep the service running securely, remember basic preferences and understand how people use our pages in an anonymous way. Some cookies are strictly necessary for technical reasons, while others help us see which explanations about social help for pensioners are most useful. Where tools allow, you can choose whether to allow non-essential cookies. For more detail on types, purposes and choices, please read our separate cookie policy, which works together with this privacy policy.

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Contact

You may visit this site to understand social assistance for pensioners, not to think about data protection. Still, knowing how your information is handled can help you feel more at ease. If you have questions about this privacy policy, want to exercise your rights or believe your data has been handled incorrectly, you can contact us using the details on our contact page. We review such requests carefully and respond in line with applicable South African and other relevant privacy laws.

Changes to this policy

Information handling can change over time as laws, technologies and our own services evolve. When we update this privacy policy, we publish the new version on this page and adjust the date at the top. Significant changes may also be highlighted elsewhere on the site. We encourage you to read this policy from time to time, especially if you return after a long break. Your continued use of Pelorina after changes take effect will be treated as acceptance of the updated policy, as far as the law allows.