Dear Member,
The Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“the POPI Act”) seeks to protect the personal information of all citizens. In its regulation of how personal information is processed, the Act attempts to balance the right to privacy and the need for the free flow of, and access to, information.
The POPI Act applies to any public or private body that keeps any type of records relating to information of a personal nature, including a church.
Session has appointed an Information Officer and Deputy Information Officer as required by the Act.
The St Columba’s office keeps records of the names, identity numbers, residential and email addresses and telephone numbers of all its members and their minor children as well as of non-members who wish to remain in contact with the congregation. The information kept on record is provided voluntarily and is used for purposes of communication and, in the case of members, to compile a Roll of Members as required in the UPCSA Manual of Faith and Order so that we can report to Presbytery as and when required, for example in the annual report on the number of members in each congregation. No personal detail is disclosed in such reporting, and we will not make this information available to any outside party without your prior consent.
Should you be of the view that we are not complying with POPI, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator appointed in terms of the POPI Act. Obviously, we trust that you would first address any concerns with us. The contact detail of the Information Regulator are as follows:
Physical Address: House 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, JHB, 2001
Postal Address: Po Box 31533, Braamfontein, JHB, 2107
Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za or complaints.IR@justice.gov.za
We are by law obliged to obtain your approval to keep the detail described above. If we do not hear from you to the contrary by 30 July 2021, we will assume your approval on behalf of yourself and your minor children (if applicable) in respect of the information previously provided.
Should you at any time wish to verify the correctness of the information kept by the church office, or alter/update any information previously provided, please contact the Office Administrator, at admin@stcolumbashatfield.co.za.
Kind regards
Session Clerk and Information Officer
St. Columba's Presbyterian Church, Hatfield 