Section 01
Who We Are
Skilled Youth Africa is a youth training and workplace experience programme operated under the Youth Empowerment Project, founded and led by Siphiwe Mabusela. We are based in South Africa and operate across all nine provinces.
| Organisation | Skilled Youth Africa (Youth Empowerment Project) |
| Founded by | Siphiwe Mabusela |
| Website | skilledyouth.africa |
| Country | Republic of South Africa |
| Contact | Available via the Contact page on our website |
| Regulator | Information Regulator of South Africa — inforegulator.org.za |
Section 02
Information We Collect
We collect personal information only for legitimate, specific purposes related to operating the Skilled Youth Africa programme. We collect the following categories of information:
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Full name (first name and last name)
- Email address
- Phone number
- Province of residence
- Township or area of residence
- Area of interest (training pathway preference)
- How you heard about us
- Any additional information you voluntarily provide through contact forms or correspondence
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- IP address and approximate geographic location
- Browser type, device type, and operating system
- Pages visited on our website and time spent on each page
- Referring website or source that directed you to our site
- Date and time of your visit
- Cookie data and session identifiers (see Section 7)
2.3 Information We Do Not Collect
We do not collect the following categories of special personal information as defined under POPIA, unless explicitly required and with your specific consent:
- Race or ethnic origin
- Religious or philosophical beliefs
- Political opinions or trade union membership
- Health, sex life, or biometric information
- Criminal record information
- Financial account details, banking information, or identity document numbers
Section 03
How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information only for the purposes for which it was collected, or for purposes that are compatible with those purposes. Specifically, we use your information to:
- Process and manage your registration for the Skilled Youth Africa programme
- Send you a magic link or registration confirmation to complete your application profile
- Communicate programme details, cohort schedules, training dates, and placement information
- Match you to the appropriate skill pathway and workplace placement based on your preferences and location
- Send important updates, notices, and operational communications related to your participation
- Analyse and improve our programme, website, and services
- Comply with our legal obligations under applicable South African law
- Respond to enquiries, feedback, or complaints you submit to us
- Produce anonymised, aggregated statistics about programme reach and impact — no individual is identifiable in these reports
We will not use your personal information for any purpose that is incompatible with the original purpose of collection without obtaining your prior consent.
Section 04
Legal Basis for Processing
Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), we process your personal information on the following lawful grounds:
| Legal Basis | Application |
|---|---|
| Consent | When you voluntarily submit your registration form and agree to this Privacy Policy |
| Contractual necessity | To fulfil our obligations in providing you with training and placement services once you are enrolled |
| Legitimate interests | To improve our website, understand programme reach, and communicate effectively with applicants |
| Legal obligation | Where we are required to retain or disclose information to comply with South African law |
Section 05
How We Share Your Information
5.1 We Do Not Sell Your Data
We do not sell, rent, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties for their own marketing or commercial purposes. Your information is not a product. It is a responsibility.
5.2 Limited Sharing for Programme Purposes
We may share your personal information with the following parties, strictly for the purpose of operating the programme:
- Placement partner organisations — where you are placed for workplace experience, we may share your name, contact details, and programme pathway with the host organisation. This sharing is necessary to facilitate your placement and is governed by confidentiality agreements with our partners.
- Technology service providers — we use third-party platforms to operate our website, manage registrations, and communicate with applicants. These providers process your data on our behalf and are bound by data processing agreements.
- Legal and regulatory bodies — where required by law, court order, or regulatory obligation, we may disclose your information to the relevant South African authority.
5.3 Aggregated and Anonymised Data
We may share aggregated, anonymised statistics about programme participation, geographic reach, and impact outcomes with funders, partners, and the public. No individual is identifiable in any such reporting.
Section 06
Data Retention
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 applicable law.
| Type of Information | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Registration enquiry (not enrolled) | 12 months from date of submission |
| Enrolled participant records | 5 years from date of programme completion |
| Placement and certificate records | 7 years from date of issue |
| Website analytics data | 24 months on a rolling basis |
| Email correspondence | 3 years from last communication |
| Legal compliance records | As required by applicable South African law |
After the applicable retention period, your personal information will be securely deleted or anonymised so that it can no longer be associated with you as an individual.
Section 07
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience, understand how visitors use our site, and support certain website functions.
7.1 What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help the website remember information about your visit, such as your preferred settings and which pages you visited.
7.2 Types of Cookies We Use
- Necessary cookies — essential for the website to function. These cannot be disabled as they are required for basic features such as page navigation and form submission.
- Analytical cookies — help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting anonymous usage data. We use this information to improve our site.
- Functional cookies — remember your preferences to enhance your experience on return visits.
7.3 Managing Cookies
You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website. You will also be presented with a cookie consent banner when you first visit our website, through which you can select your preferences.
Section 08
Your Rights Under POPIA
As a data subject under the Protection of Personal Information Act, you have the following rights in respect of your personal information held by us:
Right of Access
Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Right to Correction
Request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Right to Deletion
Request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal obligations to retain it.
Right to Object
Object to processing on grounds relating to your particular situation where we rely on legitimate interests.
Right to Withdraw Consent
Withdraw your consent at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of prior processing.
Right to Complain
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe we have violated POPIA.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 11. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
Section 09
How We Protect Your Information
We take the security of your personal information seriously. We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction. These measures include:
- Secure HTTPS encryption on all pages of our website where data is collected or transmitted
- Access controls — only authorised personnel with a genuine need to access your information may do so
- Secure data storage with reputable hosting providers that comply with applicable security standards
- Regular review of our security practices and updates to our systems
- Staff awareness of data protection responsibilities
Despite these measures, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. In the event of a security breach that is likely to result in harm to you, we will notify you and the Information Regulator as required by law.
Section 10
Children and Young People Under 18
Our programme is open to individuals aged 18 and above. Our website is not directed at children under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you are under 18, please do not submit your personal information through our website without the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a person under the age of 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
Section 11
How to Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or wish to make a complaint about how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Skilled Youth Africa
Attention: Information Officer
skilledyouth.africa/contactskilledyouth.africa
Information Regulator of South Africa: www.inforegulator.org.za
Section 12
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this document and, where appropriate, notify registered users by email.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our website after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
Section 13
Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including but not limited to the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA), and any other applicable legislation.
Any disputes arising from or relating to this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the South African courts.
This Privacy Policy was prepared in good faith to protect the personal information of every young person who trusts us with their data.
Skilled Youth Africa · Skills · Jobs · Enterprise · Africa
Effective: April 2026 | Version 1.0 | POPIA Compliant