Privacy Policy
Topika respects your privacy and takes the protection of your personal information seriously. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and share it, and the rights you have under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).
This policy applies to topika.co.za, our customer support channels, our warehouse and retail operations, and our recruitment process.
1. What personal information we collect
| Category | What it includes | Source |
| Order and delivery information | Name, delivery address, contact number, email address, order contents, delivery notes | You |
| Customer support records | Emails, WhatsApp conversations, form submissions and photos you upload of damaged or incorrect items | You |
| Account information | If you register an account on topika.co.za: email address, password hash, order history | You |
| Payment information | We do not store full card numbers in our own systems; payments are handled by our payment provider, and we receive only the transaction result and reconciliation information | Payment provider |
| Website usage data | IP address, device and browser information, pages visited, referral source, cookie identifiers | Automatic collection |
| Marketing preferences | Subscription status, engagement records, unsubscribe records | You and automatic collection |
5. How we use your information
- Fulfilling orders, arranging delivery and processing returns, refunds and warranty claims.
- Responding to customer support enquiries and resolving complaints.
- Preventing fraud, misuse and unauthorised resale.
- Meeting legal, tax, customs and accounting obligations.
- Improving our products, listings and website experience.
- Sending marketing communications where you have opted in, or where you are an existing customer and the law allows it without separate consent.
- Recruiting and assessing candidates.
6. Sharing and cross-border transfers
We share personal information only where it is necessary to run our business, and we require our service providers to protect it.
| Type of recipient | Purpose | Location |
| Topika | Platform sales and fulfilment support | South Africa |
| Courier and logistics providers | Delivery, returns and collections | South Africa |
| Payment provider | Payment processing and refunds | South Africa |
| Warehousing and operations system providers | Order and inventory management | South Africa |
Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, we transfer it only in line with section 72 of POPIA, which requires that the recipient is subject to laws with adequate protection, is bound by an agreement with comparable protections, or that you have consented to the transfer.
8. Your rights
Under POPIA you have the right to be notified that your personal information is being collected, to access the information we hold about you, to request correction or deletion of information that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive or unlawfully held, to object to processing, and to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
To exercise any of these rights, email support@topika.co.za with a description of your request and proof of identity. We acknowledge requests within 2 business days and respond within 30 days.
9. Cookies and similar technologies
| Category | Purpose | Can you refuse it? |
| Strictly necessary | Shopping cart, security, login status | No |
| Analytics | Tools such as Google Analytics, used to understand page performance | Yes, via the cookie banner |
| Marketing | Tools such as Meta Pixel, used for advertising and remarketing | Yes, via the cookie banner |
10. Security measures and children’s information
We use access controls, encryption in transit, restricted staff permissions and secure third-party systems to protect personal information. No system is completely secure, and we will notify affected data subjects and the Information Regulator where a breach creates a risk of harm, as required by POPIA.
Our products and website are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without the consent of a competent person.
11. The Future: Policy Updates and Business Changes
We reserve the right to modify this privacy policy at any time, so we encourage regular review. Updates and clarifications take effect immediately upon their posting on the website. Should a material change occur, we will notify you here so you remain informed about what information we collect, how we use it, and the circumstances, if any, under which it is used or disclosed. In the event our store is acquired or merged with another company, your information may be transferred to the new owners. This ensures we can continue to sell products to you without interruption.