Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 11, 2026

House of Mathebula is a trading name of Gap Digital Group (Pty) Ltd ("House of Mathebula", "we", "us" or "our").

We operate houseofmathebula.co.za and provide the related website, online store, products, customer support and other services (collectively, the "Services").

Our store is powered by Shopify, which provides the ecommerce platform that enables us to offer our Services.

We respect your privacy and process personal information in accordance with applicable South African law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA").

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect or process, why we use it, where it comes from, who we may share it with, how it may be transferred internationally, how long it may be retained, and the rights available to you.

By using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy.

1. Who Is Responsible for Your Personal Information?

For personal information processed for the operation of House of Mathebula, the responsible party is:

Gap Digital Group (Pty) Ltd
Trading as House of Mathebula
34 Odin Drive
Cape Town, Western Cape, 7570
South Africa

Email: hello@houseofmathebula.co.za
Telephone: +27 69 250 3055

Certain service providers, including Shopify, may also process personal information in accordance with their own responsibilities, terms and privacy policies.

2. Personal Information We Collect or Process

"Personal information" means information relating to an identifiable person or organisation where protected by applicable law.

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect or process:

Contact information, including your name, email address, telephone number, billing address and delivery address.

Order and transaction information, including products viewed or purchased, items added to your cart, order history, returns, exchanges, cancellations and transaction details.

Payment-related information, including payment method, payment confirmation and transaction information. Payment card information may be processed by Shopify or the relevant payment provider rather than stored directly by House of Mathebula.

Account information, where customer-account functionality is used, including account details, preferences and settings.

Communications, including messages, support requests, emails and other correspondence you send to us.

Device and technical information, including your IP address, browser, device type, network connection and other technical identifiers.

Usage information, including how you browse, use and interact with our website and Services.

Marketing information, including your communication preferences and, where applicable, information about your interaction with our promotional communications or advertisements.

We aim to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for legitimate business, contractual and legal purposes.

3. How We Collect Personal Information

We may receive personal information:

• directly from you when you place an order, create an account, subscribe to communications, contact us or otherwise provide information;
• automatically when you use our website, including through cookies and similar technologies;
• from Shopify and other service providers that help operate our store;
• from payment processors, fulfilment providers, couriers and logistics providers;
• from marketing, analytics or advertising partners where lawfully permitted; and
• from other third parties where permitted by applicable law.

4. Why We Use Your Personal Information

We may process personal information for the following purposes.

Providing and Fulfilling Orders

We use personal information to:

• process and confirm orders;
• process or facilitate payments;
• arrange fulfilment and shipping;
• provide tracking information;
• communicate regarding orders;
• process returns, exchanges and refunds; and
• provide customer support.

Operating and Improving Our Store

We may use information to:

• operate and maintain our website;
• understand how customers use our store;
• diagnose technical problems;
• improve our products, website and customer experience;
• remember preferences; and
• analyse general store performance.

Security and Fraud Prevention

We may process information to:

• protect customers and our business;
• verify transactions;
• detect, prevent and investigate suspected fraud;
• protect our website, systems and accounts; and
• investigate unlawful or malicious activity.

Communication

We may use your contact information to communicate with you about:

• orders;
• delivery;
• returns and refunds;
• customer-support requests;
• changes affecting our Services; and
• other legitimate service-related matters.

Marketing

Where permitted by law, we may send promotional communications about House of Mathebula products, collections or offers.

Where consent is required, we will seek the appropriate consent.

You can unsubscribe from promotional emails using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in those communications.

Opting out of marketing does not prevent us from sending transactional or service communications relating to an order or customer enquiry.

Legal and Regulatory Requirements

We may process information where reasonably necessary to:

• comply with applicable laws;
• comply with tax, accounting and record-keeping obligations;
• respond to lawful requests from regulators, courts or law-enforcement authorities;
• establish, exercise or defend legal claims; or
• enforce our policies and agreements.

5. Shopify

Our online store is hosted and powered by Shopify.

Shopify processes certain personal information when you visit or interact with our Shopify-powered store, including information required to provide ecommerce, checkout, security and related platform services.

Information submitted through our store may therefore be transmitted to and processed by Shopify and its service providers.

Shopify may also independently process certain information in accordance with its own privacy policies and services.

You can review Shopify's Consumer Privacy Policy and use Shopify's Privacy Portal to learn more about Shopify's processing and privacy rights.

6. Fulfilment and Shipping Providers

House of Mathebula uses third-party fulfilment and logistics providers to fulfil and deliver orders.

Where necessary to complete your order, we may share information such as:

• your name;
• delivery address;
• telephone number;
• email address;
• order details; and
• other information reasonably required for fulfilment, customs clearance, shipment or delivery.

Some products may be fulfilled from locations outside South Africa. Your information may therefore need to be transmitted to international fulfilment providers, warehouses, couriers or logistics partners to complete your order.

We do not provide fulfilment partners with personal information that is unrelated to their role in fulfilling or delivering your order.

7. How We Share Personal Information

We may disclose personal information to third parties where reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

These parties may include:

• Shopify, which hosts and powers our online store;
• payment providers, to process transactions;
• fulfilment providers, to prepare and dispatch orders;
• couriers and logistics providers, to deliver orders;
• technology and hosting providers, to operate our systems;
• analytics providers, to understand store performance;
• marketing and advertising providers, where lawfully permitted;
• professional advisers, including legal, accounting or compliance advisers;
• regulators, courts or government authorities, where legally required; and
• a purchaser, successor or relevant adviser in connection with a legitimate sale, restructuring, merger or similar business transaction.

We do not sell customer personal information as a standalone commercial product.

8. International Transfers of Personal Information

Because we use international ecommerce, technology and fulfilment providers, personal information may be transferred, stored or processed outside South Africa.

For example, Shopify, international fulfilment providers, cloud-service providers or couriers may process information in other countries.

POPIA regulates the transfer of personal information outside South Africa.

Where applicable, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that cross-border processing is carried out in accordance with applicable legal requirements and that appropriate safeguards or lawful transfer mechanisms are used where required.

9. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website and the services supporting it may use cookies, pixels and similar technologies.

These technologies may be used to:

• keep the website functioning;
• remember preferences;
• maintain shopping-cart functionality;
• secure transactions;
• understand website usage;
• measure website performance; and
• support marketing or advertising where permitted.

Some cookies are necessary for the operation of the store, while others may relate to analytics, personalisation or advertising.

Where applicable law requires consent for particular cookies or tracking technologies, appropriate consent mechanisms may be provided.

10. Direct Marketing and Communication Preferences

Where permitted under applicable law, we may use your contact details to send marketing communications about House of Mathebula.

You may unsubscribe from promotional emails using the unsubscribe option provided in the communication or by contacting us.

We may still send non-promotional communications necessary to manage an existing order, transaction, customer-service request or legal obligation.

POPIA specifically regulates unsolicited electronic communications used for direct marketing.

11. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:

• loss;
• unauthorised access;
• misuse;
• alteration;
• destruction; and
• unlawful disclosure.

However, no internet transmission, electronic system or storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

You should avoid sending highly sensitive information through unsecured communication channels.

12. Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or as otherwise permitted or required by law.

Retention periods may depend on factors including:

• order and transaction requirements;
• customer-support requirements;
• tax and accounting obligations;
• fraud prevention;
• legal or regulatory requirements;
• dispute resolution; and
• enforcement of agreements.

When information is no longer reasonably required, we may securely delete, destroy or de-identify it, subject to applicable legal requirements.

13. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to POPIA and other applicable laws, you may have rights concerning your personal information, including the right to:

• request confirmation of whether we process personal information about you;
• request access to personal information held about you;
• request correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information;
• request deletion or destruction where legally applicable;
• object to certain processing where permitted by law;
• withdraw consent where processing relies on consent, subject to applicable limitations;
• object to certain direct marketing communications; and
• lodge a complaint with the appropriate regulatory authority.

Some rights are subject to legal exceptions and may not apply in every circumstance.

We may need to verify your identity before responding to a privacy request.

To make a request, contact:

hello@houseofmathebula.co.za

14. Information Regulator

If you believe your personal information has been processed in a manner that does not comply with applicable South African data-protection law, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.

We encourage you to contact us first so that we have an opportunity to address your concern.

15. Children's Personal Information

Our online store is intended for persons legally capable of entering into purchases or using the Services in accordance with applicable law.

We do not knowingly seek to collect children's personal information where doing so would require authorisation or consent that has not been obtained.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe a child has provided personal information to us inappropriately, please contact us at hello@houseofmathebula.co.za so that we can review the matter.

16. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our Services may contain links to websites, platforms or services operated by third parties.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of independent third parties. When you leave our website or use a third-party service, you should review that provider's own privacy policy.

The inclusion of a link does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the third party or its privacy practices.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect:

• changes to our Services;
• changes to our service providers;
• operational changes;
• technological developments; or
• legal or regulatory requirements.

When we make changes, we will publish the revised Privacy Policy on our website and update the Last updated date.

18. Contact Us

For privacy questions, requests or complaints, please contact:

House of Mathebula
A trading name of Gap Digital Group (Pty) Ltd
34 Odin Drive
Cape Town, Western Cape, 7570
South Africa

Email: hello@houseofmathebula.co.za
Telephone: +27 69 250 3055