PRIVACY POLICY
VAN BLERK ATTORNEYS INC.
Last Updated: 28 August 2026
1. Introduction
Van Blerk Attorneys Inc. (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) and all applicable South African data protection legislation.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information obtained through our website (“Website”) and in connection with the legal services we provide. Please read this policy carefully.
By accessing or using our Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
2. Who We Are (Responsible Party)
For the purposes of POPIA, we are the Responsible Party in respect of the personal information we process:
Firm Name: Van Blerk Attorneys Inc. Registration /
Practice Number: 2021/126947/21
Physical Address: Unit 16, Sir Benjamin Promenade, 22 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Western Province, South Africa
Email: admin@vanblerklaw.co.za
Telephone: 021 569 6097
Information Officer: Frederik van Blerk
3. Personal Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following categories of personal information:
3.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Full name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
- Identity number or passport number (where required for legal engagements)
- Information submitted through our contact or enquiry forms
- Details of your legal matter or dispute shared during consultations
- Correspondence and communications with our firm
3.2 Information Collected Automatically
- IP address and browser type
- Pages visited and time spent on our Website
- Referring URLs and search terms used to find our Website
- Cookie and tracking data (see Section 9 below)
3.3 Special Personal Information
We may, where necessary and with your consent or as otherwise permitted by POPIA, process special personal information such as information relating to race, health, criminal history, or religious beliefs, where relevant to the legal services provided.
4. How We Use Your Personal Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
- To respond to your enquiries and provide you with legal services
- To fulfil our contractual obligations as your legal representatives
- To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations (including FICA, POPIA, and Law Society requirements)
- To verify your identity and conduct due diligence as required by law
- To maintain accurate client records and case files
- To send you updates, legal newsletters, or information about our services (where you have consented)
- To improve and administer our Website and services
- To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security, or technical issues
5. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal information on the following legal grounds under POPIA:
- Your consent, freely and voluntarily given
- To perform a contract to which you are a party, or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract
- To comply with a legal obligation applicable to us
- To protect a legitimate interest of yours or ours, where this is not overridden by your rights
- In the public interest or the exercise of official authority
6. Disclosure of Your Personal Information
We may share your personal information with the following parties, only to the extent necessary and permissible under POPIA:
- Courts, tribunals, and regulatory authorities as required by law or court order
- Opposing parties or their legal representatives where necessary in legal proceedings
- Our professional indemnity insurers or auditors
- Third-party service providers who assist with our IT systems, cloud storage, or administrative services (bound by confidentiality and data processing agreements)
- Law enforcement agencies where we are legally obligated to disclose
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for marketing purposes.
7. Cross-Border Transfers of Personal Information
Where we transfer your personal information to recipients outside South Africa, we will ensure such transfer is in compliance with section 72 of POPIA, including that the recipient country or organisation provides an adequate level of protection, or that you have consented to the transfer, or that the transfer is otherwise permitted by law.
8. Retention of Personal Information
We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Client files and related records are generally retained for a minimum of five (5) years after the conclusion of a matter, in accordance with the Legal Practice Act and applicable professional rules. Thereafter, records are securely destroyed.
9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our Website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.
9.1 Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential cookies: necessary for the Website to function correctly
- Analytics cookies: help us understand how visitors use our Website (e.g. Google Analytics)
- Preference cookies: remember your settings and preferences
You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. However, some features of our Website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.
10. Security of Your Personal Information
We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against loss, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include secure servers, encrypted communications, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
In the event of a security compromise or data breach that is likely to prejudice you, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as required by POPIA.
11. Your Rights as a Data Subject
Under POPIA, you have the following rights in respect of your personal information:
- The right to be notified that your personal information is being collected
- The right to access your personal information held by us
- The right to request correction or deletion of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
- The right to object to the processing of your personal information
- The right to withdraw consent at any time (without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing)
- The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator
To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer at the details set out in Section 2 above. We will respond to your request within a reasonable time and in accordance with POPIA.
12. Information Regulator
If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your personal information, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa:
Information Regulator (South Africa)
Website: www.inforegulator.org.za
Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
Telephone: +27 (0) 10 023 5207
Address: JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001
13. Third-Party Websites
Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of such websites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
14. Children’s Personal Information
Our Website and services are not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors without the appropriate consent of a competent person as required by POPIA. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will post the updated policy on our Website with a revised “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our Website after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
16. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal information, please contact our Information Officer:
Van Blerk Attorneys Inc. Attention: Information Officer – Frederik van Blerk
Email: admin@vanblerklaw.co.za
Telephone: 021 569 6097
Address: Unit 16, Sir Benjamin Promenade, 22 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Western Province, South Africa
This Privacy Policy was adopted by Van Blerk Attorneys Inc. on 28 August 2026 and complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).