Privacy Policy

Last Updated: October 8, 2025

Introduction

SSP Multiconsult ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, applications, or interact with us in any way.

By using our website, products, or services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

Fill out contact forms or enquiry forms
Purchase our products or services
Register for workshops or training programs
Subscribe to our newsletters or communications
Use our SSPChat A.I. tool
Download or purchase our applications (e.g., SteelDesignPro 4.0)

This information may include:

Full name (first and last name)
Email address
Phone number
Postal address
Company name and job title
Payment information (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
Professional qualifications and credentials
Any other information you choose to provide in enquiry messages

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activities, including:

IP address
Browser type and version
Operating system
Referring website
Pages visited and time spent on pages
Date and time of visits
Clickstream data

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. These may include:

Essential cookies for website functionality
Analytics cookies to understand how visitors use our site
Marketing cookies for advertising purposes

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

1.4 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties such as:

Professional associations (e.g., SAICE - South African Institution of Civil Engineering)
Industry partners
Public databases and directories
Social media platforms (if you interact with us through social media)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

2.1 Service Delivery

To provide, maintain, and improve our engineering services
To process orders for books, software, and other products
To deliver our SSPChat A.I. tool and other applications
To register you for workshops and training programs
To provide project management and engineering consulting services

2.2 Communication

To respond to your enquiries and provide customer support
To send you order confirmations and updates
To provide technical notices, updates, and security alerts
To send newsletters and marketing communications (with your consent)

2.3 Business Operations

To process payments and prevent fraud
To maintain records for professional and regulatory compliance
To analyze usage patterns and improve our website and services
To conduct research and development
To enforce our terms and conditions

2.4 Legal Obligations

To comply with applicable laws and regulations
To respond to legal processes and government requests
To protect our rights, privacy, safety, and property

3. Legal Basis for Processing (POPIA Compliance)

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa, we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

Consent: Where you have given explicit consent for specific purposes
Contract Performance: To fulfill our contractual obligations to you
Legal Obligation: To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
Legitimate Interests: For our business interests, provided they don't override your rights

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information with:

4.1 Service Providers

Payment processors
Cloud hosting providers
Email service providers
Analytics providers
Marketing and advertising partners

4.2 Professional Partners

Key industry partners mentioned on our website
Subcontractors working on specific projects (with your knowledge)
Professional bodies for certification and accreditation purposes

4.3 Legal Requirements

Law enforcement or government agencies when required by law
In connection with legal proceedings or investigations
To protect our rights or the rights of others

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

Encryption of sensitive data (SSL/TLS)
Secure server infrastructure
Regular security assessments
Access controls and authentication
Employee training on data protection

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Retention periods vary depending on:

The nature of the information
The purpose for which it was collected
Legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., tax records, engineering project documentation)
Our legitimate business interests

Professional engineering records may be retained for extended periods as required by professional indemnity insurance and regulatory bodies.

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act, you have the following rights:

7.1 Right to Access

You have the right to request confirmation of whether we process your personal information and to access that information.

7.2 Right to Correction

You can request that we correct or update inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

7.3 Right to Deletion

You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and contractual obligations.

7.4 Right to Object

You can object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, including direct marketing.

7.5 Right to Restriction

You can request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

7.6 Right to Data Portability

You can request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used format.

7.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw your consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

8. International Data Transfers

While we are based in South Africa, some of our service providers may process data outside of South Africa. When we transfer your data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

Standard contractual clauses
Adequacy decisions
Binding corporate rules
Your explicit consent

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. Marketing Communications

With your consent, we may send you marketing communications about our services, products, workshops, and industry updates. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails
Contacting us directly at info@sspmulticonsult.co.za
Updating your communication preferences

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you transactional or service-related communications.

11. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including our key industry partners. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. SSPChat A.I. and Applications

12.1 SSPChat A.I. Tool

When you use our SSPChat A.I. Construction and Inspection AI Assistant, we may collect:

Query data and interactions
Usage patterns and preferences
Technical data about your device and connection
Files or documents you upload for analysis (if applicable)

This data is used to provide the service, improve AI functionality, and enhance user experience.

12.2 SteelDesignPro 4.0 and Other Applications

When you purchase or use our applications, we may collect:

License information
Usage data
Technical support requests
Application performance data

13. Research and Development

As part of our commitment to innovation in civil and structural engineering, we may use anonymized and aggregated data for research and development purposes. This data cannot be used to identify individual users.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the updated policy on our website
Updating the "Last Updated" date
Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

15. Information Officer

Under POPIA, we have appointed an Information Officer responsible for data protection compliance:

Information Officer: Jeffrey Mahachi, Pr.Eng, PhD, FSAICE
Email: info@sspmulticonsult.co.za
Phone: +27 82 904 9569
Address: 15 Soetdoring St, Randburg, 2169, South Africa

16. Complaints and Disputes

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us first. If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa:

Information Regulator (South Africa)
Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
Website: https://www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

SSP Multiconsult
15 Soetdoring St
Randburg, 2169
South Africa

Phone: +27 82 904 9569
Email: info@sspmulticonsult.co.za
Website: www.sspmulticonsult.co.za

Acknowledgment

By using our website, services, or applications, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.