Privacy Policy

Prime Chapters is operated by PRIME CHAPTERS (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2026/529240/07. Prime Chapters is a South African friendship, companionship and social-connection community for people aged 50 and older, including people who turn 50 during the current calendar year.

1. Who is responsible for your information?

Prime Chapters is the responsible party under the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Riska Michna is the registered Information Officer and is the designated contact for privacy requests and complaints.

2. Information we collect

• Identity and contact information, including name, date of birth, email address and call or WhatsApp number.
• Profile information, including town, province, interests, relationship status, gender, language, biography and preferences.
• Profile photographs, gallery photographs and a private verification profile photo.
• Member content and activity, including messages, public chat posts, Life Stories, event activity, connection activity and notification preferences.
• Safety information, including reports, blocked-member records, moderation decisions and appeal records.
• Membership and payment information, including the selected plan, Prime Chapters payment reference, PayFast transaction reference, payment status and membership dates. Prime Chapters does not receive or store card details, online banking passwords, PINs or one-time passwords.
• Technical and security information, such as IP address, browser or device details, login activity, cookies required for sessions, and push-notification tokens.
• Google account information when Google sign-in is chosen, limited to the information authorized by the member. Prime Chapters does not receive the member’s Google password.

3. Verification profile photos

The verification profile photo is private, is not shown to other members, and may be viewed only by the specifically authorized administrator responsible for identity verification. It is retained while the account remains active to support verification, impersonation prevention, fraud prevention and member safety. It is deleted or permanently de-identified following account deletion, unless temporary retention is required for an active safety matter, legal obligation, fraud investigation or dispute.

4. Why we process information

• To register, verify and manage accounts.
• To confirm age eligibility and reject applicants who do not qualify.
• To provide profiles, discovery, messaging, public chat, events, Life Stories and membership services.
• To protect members, investigate reports, prevent fraud and enforce policies.
• To process membership payments securely through PayFast and maintain financial records.
• To send essential account, security, message and service notifications.
• To improve reliability, accessibility and security.
• To comply with legal duties and respond to lawful requests.

5. Legal grounds

Depending on the activity, processing is based on consent, performance of the membership agreement, compliance with law, protection of legitimate interests, and the legitimate interests of Prime Chapters and its members in operating a safe and reliable community. Consent may be withdrawn where consent is the legal basis, but withdrawal does not make earlier lawful processing unlawful.

6. Sharing and service providers

Information may be provided to carefully selected hosting, email, push-notification, security, authentication, professional-advice and payment service providers only where reasonably necessary. Providers must handle information under appropriate confidentiality and data-protection obligations. Information may also be disclosed where required by law, court order, law-enforcement process, or to protect a person from serious harm.

7. International processing

Some technical providers may process information outside South Africa. Prime Chapters will use providers and safeguards reasonably intended to provide an adequate level of protection as required by POPIA.

8. Communications

Essential service communications, such as security alerts, verification updates, message notifications, material service changes, form part of the service. Optional marketing messages will be limited, sent only where legally permitted, and will include a way to opt out. Opting out of marketing does not stop essential service messages.

9. Security

Prime Chapters uses reasonable technical and organizational safeguards, including access controls, secure login practices, manual approval, moderation controls and restricted access to verification profile photos. No internet service can promise absolute security. Members must keep passwords and devices secure and report suspected compromise promptly.

10. Your rights

Subject to applicable law, members may ask whether Prime Chapters holds their personal information, request access, ask for correction or deletion, object to certain processing, withdraw consent, and lodge a complaint. Identity verification may be required before a request is fulfilled.

11. Retention

Information is retained according to the Data Retention Policy. Account deletion is handled under the Account Deletion Policy.

12. Changes

Material changes will be communicated through the website, email, in-app notice or push notification. The effective date at the top of this policy will be updated.