Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Fortitude Sports Massage is the “responsible party” for personal information collected through this website and when you book or have a session with us.

• Business: Fortitude Sports Massage, a sole proprietorship owned and run by Eugene Marais
• Address: 15 Kei Road, Farrarmere, Benoni, 1501
• Email: info@fortitudesportsmassage.co.za
• Phone: WhatsApp 078 1200 206 (WhatsApp only)
• Website: fortitudesportsmassage.co.za

Information Officer: Eugene Marais

2. What information we collect

Booking form. When you send a booking request we collect what you fill in: your name, phone number, email address, the massage and session length you choose, your preferred day and time, and anything you tell us under “What’s bothering you?”.

WhatsApp. If you message us on WhatsApp, we receive your WhatsApp name, number and whatever you send us.

At your session. We may ask about injuries, pain, training and medical conditions so we can give you a safe and suitable massage.

Counting website bookings. When you send the booking form or tap a WhatsApp button on this website, the website records a short reference number (for example “web 4821”), the date, which button you used, the page you were on, and the massage and session length you chose. This record does not include your name, phone number, email address or message. The same reference appears in your booking email or WhatsApp message so we can match them up.

Technical information. Like any website, our hosting provider automatically records technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, browser type and the pages requested. We use cookieless analytics that count visits and measure page speed without identifying you.

We do not take payments through this website, and you do not need an account to use it.

3. Health information

Information about your health, injuries and medical conditions is “special personal information” under POPIA, and we treat it with extra care.

• We only collect it when you choose to give it to us, and by giving it you consent to us using it for your treatment.
• We use it only to plan a massage that is safe and suitable for you.
• We do not share it with anyone else unless you ask us to or the law requires it.

You don’t have to share health details through the website. You can tell us in person instead. Please do tell us about any medical condition, injury, medication or pregnancy before your session, for your own safety.

4. Why we use it

We use your information to:

• reply to your booking request and confirm, change or cancel your booking;
• give you a safe and suitable massage;
• count how many bookings come through this website (this uses only the anonymous record described above);
• keep this website secure and working; and
• meet our legal obligations.

We rely on your consent when you send us your details, on the need to take the steps you ask for before and during a booking, and on our legitimate interest in running a safe and secure business. We only collect information that is relevant for these purposes.

5. Who we share it with

We do not sell your information. We use a small number of service providers (“operators”) who process information on our behalf:

• Hosting and analytics: Vercel Inc. serves this website and provides its cookieless analytics.
• Booking form delivery: FormSubmit passes your booking request to our inbox by email.
• WhatsApp: messages you send us on WhatsApp are handled by WhatsApp (Meta), under WhatsApp’s own privacy policy.
• Google: the map on our Book page is provided by Google Maps, and the anonymous website-booking record is kept in a Google Sheet. Google receives your IP address when these load.
• Website developer: WAC Design Lab (Pty) Ltd builds and maintains this website and can see the anonymous website-booking records. It does not receive your name, contact details or messages.

We may also disclose information where the law requires it, for example to a court or regulator.

6. Sending information outside South Africa

Some of the providers above process information in other countries, including the United States and the European Union. Where that happens we take reasonable steps to make sure your information stays protected, as POPIA requires.

7. How long we keep it

We keep booking requests and session notes for as long as we need them to arrange and give you your sessions, and no longer than is reasonably necessary or the law requires. When we no longer need them, we delete them.

8. How we protect it

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect your information from loss, misuse and unauthorised access, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and limiting who can see your details. No system is completely secure, and if there is a breach affecting your information we will notify you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.

9. Your rights

Under POPIA you may ask us to:

• confirm whether we hold information about you and give you a copy;
• correct or delete information that is inaccurate, out of date or that we should no longer keep;
• stop using your information, or withdraw your consent (this does not affect what we did before you withdrew it).

To do this, see our PAIA & POPIA Requests page.

10. Marketing

We only send you marketing messages if you have asked for them or agreed to receive them, and you can opt out at any time.

11. Children

We need the consent of a parent or guardian to process the personal information of anyone under 18. If you are booking for someone under 18, please tell us.

12. Complaints

If you believe we have handled your information unlawfully, please contact us first so we can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last changed.