Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how D&E Group and the applicable D&E Group operating entity involved in your enquiry, quote, order, account or supply relationship collect, use, disclose and protect personal information through the website www.degroup.co.za and related business interactions.

This policy is intended for website publication and is drafted with reference to the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), read with other applicable South African laws.

1. Who We Are

For purposes of this website, “D&E Group”, “we”, “us” or “our” refers to the D&E Group businesses promoted on this website, including the relevant operating entity that interacts with you in connection with a quote request, order, delivery, account application or supply arrangement.

General website contact details: www.degroup.co.za | info@degroup.bowstudios-hosting.co.za | +27 21 907 4700.

For privacy-related requests, objections or complaints, you may contact us using the details above and mark your communication for the attention of the Information Officer / Privacy Contact.

2. Personal Information We May Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal information:

• Identity and contact information, such as your name, surname, email address, telephone number and job title
• Business information, such as your company name, registration number, VAT number, branch, delivery address, billing address and account details
• Enquiry, quotation, order and delivery information, including product interests, specifications, quantities, project details, correspondence and transaction history
• Credit and account information submitted through a credit application or account process, where applicable
• Technical and usage information relating to your use of the website, such as IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, date and time of access and referring website
• Cookies and similar technologies as described in our Cookie Policy
• Any information you choose to provide when you contact us, request a quote, submit a form or otherwise communicate with us

3. How We Collect Personal Information

We may collect personal information directly from you when you:

• Complete a website form
• Request a quote or product information
• Contact us by email, telephone, WhatsApp or through the website
• Apply for credit or open an account
• Place an order or arrange collection or delivery
• Subscribe to marketing communications where offered

We may also collect certain information automatically through cookies, server logs and analytics tools. In addition, we may receive information from third parties such as your employer, delivery recipients, service providers, public sources, credit bureaux or trade references where this is lawful and relevant.

4. Why We Process Personal Information

We may process personal information for one or more of the following purposes:

• To respond to enquiries and provide quotations
• To process and administer orders, deliveries, collections and returns
• To open and manage trade accounts and assess credit applications where applicable
• To communicate with you about products, services, orders, deliveries, account matters and customer support
• To maintain business records and comply with legal, tax, accounting, audit and regulatory obligations
• To operate, secure, maintain and improve the website and our services
• To investigate complaints, disputes, incidents, fraud or misuse
• To exercise or defend legal rights
• To send direct marketing where lawful and, where required, where you have consented or have not opted out

5. Lawful Grounds for Processing

We process personal information where this is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into a contract, to conclude or perform a contract, to comply with a legal obligation, to pursue our legitimate business interests in a lawful and proportionate manner, or where you have provided consent where consent is required.

6. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose personal information to:

• Other D&E Group entities involved in your enquiry, supply relationship or account administration
• Service providers and operators who help us host, maintain or secure the website, manage forms or communications, deliver goods, provide IT support, analytics, cloud storage, payment-related support, debt recovery, legal, audit or accounting services
• Banks, insurers, credit bureaux, trade references and professional advisers where required for account opening, credit management or risk management
• Regulators, law enforcement authorities, courts or other persons where disclosure is required or permitted by law
• A purchaser, successor or restructuring party in connection with a merger, sale, reorganisation or disposal of all or part of our business, subject to lawful safeguards

7. Cross-Border Transfers

Some of our service providers may store or process personal information outside South Africa. Where cross-border transfers occur, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient is subject to a law, binding agreement or binding corporate rules that provide an adequate level of protection, or that another lawful basis for transfer exists.

8. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enable site functionality, remember preferences, understand how the site is used, and support website security and performance.

Where non-essential cookies are used, users should be given a clear choice to accept, reject or manage those cookies through the website’s cookie banner or settings tool.

9. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction. Although no system can be guaranteed completely secure, we use appropriate safeguards having regard to the nature of the information and the risks involved.

10. Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, to maintain our business records, to enforce our rights, and to comply with applicable legal, tax, accounting and regulatory requirements.

Where information is no longer required and we are not required by law to retain it, we will securely destroy, delete or de-identify it as appropriate.

11. Your Rights

Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you
• Request access to personal information we hold about you
• Request correction, updating or deletion of personal information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out of date, incomplete, misleading or unlawfully obtained
• Object, on reasonable grounds relating to your particular situation, to certain processing
• Object to the processing of personal information for direct marketing
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, without affecting prior lawful processing
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights have been infringed

12. Direct Marketing

If we send direct marketing by electronic communication, we will do so in accordance with applicable South African law. You may opt out at any time by using the unsubscribe mechanism in the communication or by contacting us directly.

13. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites, and you should review their own privacy notices.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version published on the website will apply from the date of publication.

15. Contact and Complaints

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact D&E Group using the website contact details.

You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe that personal information has been processed unlawfully or that your rights have been infringed.