Last updated: May 2026 · Hillary Zitha Life Coach · hillaryzitha.co.za
Your privacy matters here. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and what rights you have. It is written in plain language because you deserve to understand it.
1. Who We Are
This website is operated by Hillary Zitha Life Coach, a personal life coaching practice based in South Africa.
- Website: https://hillaryzitha.co.za
- Email: hillaryzitha.lifecoach@gmail.com
We are committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and applicable data protection principles.
2. What Information We Collect
Information you give us directly
- Your name and email address when you submit a contact or enquiry form
- Your name, email address, and any details you provide when booking a discovery call via TidyCal
- Any personal information you voluntarily share in messages or enquiries sent to us
Information collected automatically
- Your IP address and browser information when you visit the website (used to help detect spam)
- Cookies placed by WordPress and any embedded third-party tools (see Section 5)
- Basic analytics data about how pages are accessed (page views, device type, general location)
Information from third-party tools
This website uses TidyCal for appointment booking. When you book a session, TidyCal collects your name, email address, and appointment preferences directly. Please review TidyCal’s Privacy Policy for details on how they handle your data.
3. Why We Collect Your Information
We only collect information we actually need. We use it to:
- Respond to your enquiries and questions
- Confirm and manage coaching appointments
- Send you information you have requested about our services
- Improve the website and ensure it functions correctly
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not use your information for unsolicited marketing. We do not sell your data to anyone. Ever.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Under POPIA, we process your personal information on the following grounds:
- Your consent — when you submit a form, book a call, or subscribe to updates
- Legitimate interest — to respond to your enquiries and operate the website
- Legal obligation — where we are required to retain records by law
5. Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. This website uses the following types:
- Essential cookies — set by WordPress to keep the site functioning (login sessions, form security). You cannot opt out of these without affecting how the site works.
- Preference cookies — if you leave a comment, your name and email may be saved in a cookie for your convenience. These last up to one year.
- Third-party cookies — TidyCal and any embedded content (e.g. Facebook) may set their own cookies. We do not control these. Please refer to each provider’s cookie policy for details.
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect your experience on this site.
6. Embedded Content and Third Parties
This website embeds content from third-party services including TidyCal (booking) and Facebook (social links). Embedded content behaves as if you visited those platforms directly — they may collect data about you, use cookies, and track your interactions. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party platforms you engage with.
7. How Long We Keep Your Information
- Enquiries and contact form submissions — retained for up to 3 years for reference purposes, then deleted
- Booking records — retained for the duration of a coaching relationship and up to 2 years after it ends
- Website analytics — aggregated data retained indefinitely; individual data deleted within 26 months
- Spam detection data — IP addresses and browser data used for spam detection are not retained beyond the purpose for which they were collected
8. Who We Share Your Information With
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share data only where necessary:
- TidyCal — to process appointment bookings
- WordPress / Automattic — the platform this website runs on
- Gravatar — if you use a Gravatar-linked email address, a hashed version of your email may be shared with Gravatar solely to display your profile picture. See Automattic’s Privacy Policy
- Spam detection services — visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service
All third parties we work with are required to handle your information responsibly and in accordance with applicable data protection law.
9. Your Rights Under POPIA
As a data subject under POPIA, you have the right to:
- Access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Correction — request that inaccurate or incomplete information be corrected
- Deletion — request that your personal information be deleted, subject to any legal retention obligations
- Objection — object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances
- Withdrawal of consent — withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hillaryzitha.lifecoach@gmail.com. We will respond within a reasonable time and no later than 30 days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa at www.justice.gov.za/inforeg.
10. Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. This includes SSL encryption on this website and secure access controls on our systems.
No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. While we do everything we reasonably can to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
11. Children’s Privacy
This website and our coaching services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If you believe a minor has submitted personal information to us, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of this website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Website: hillaryzitha.co.za/contact
