1. Definitions

1.1. Application means the mobile and online dating application know as ‘Smooches’ which is owned and operated by Smooches Online Dating including any web-based derivatives thereof;

1.2. Personal Information means information that can identify a user as an individual or is capable of identifying a user as an individual;

1.3. Service means an online dating service, operated through the Website and Application, which collects personal information and makes same available to third parties with the goal of establishing romantic relationships;

1.4. Smooches Online Dating means Smooches Online Dating (Pty) Ltd, a private company with limited liability, duly registered and incorporated in terms of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 with registration number 2022/290060/07; and

1.5. Website means the website available at www.smooches.co.za which is owned and operated by Smooches Online Dating and/or their affiliates.

2. Terms

2.1. This document outlines Smooches Online Dating’s Privacy and Cookies Policy pertaining to the  access and use of the Service provided through the Website and Application .

2.2. Should any user that accesses the Website or makes use of the Application disagree with the Privacy and Cookies Policy, they must refrain from accessing the Website, making use of the Application and/or using the Service.

3. What Personal Information do we collect?

3.1. We collect personal information that you provide to us when you sign up for an account or use our Website, including your:

3.1.1. name;

3.1.2. identification or passport number;

3.1.3. date of birth;

3.1.4. contact details, such as email address and telephone number;

3.1.5. gender;

3.1.6. race;

3.1.7. ethnicity;

3.1.8. civil status;

3.1.9. sexual orientation;

3.1.10. religion, conscience or belie;

3.1.11. location;

3.1.12. profile pictures and short video of yourself;

3.1.13. interests;

3.1.14. personal opinions, views or preferences; and

3.1.15. messages and chats with other users.

3.2. We also collect non-personal information about your use of our Website, including your:

3.2.1. IP address;

3.2.2. device type;

3.2.3. browser type;

3.2.4. operating system;

3.2.5. internet service provider;

3.2.6. referring/exit pages;

3.2.7. clickstream data; and

3.2.8. usage data.

We collect some of this information using cookies, as described below.

4. How do we use your information?

4.1. We use your personal information to:

4.1.1. create and manage your account;

4.1.2. provide you with customer support;

4.1.3. personalise your experience on our Website;

4.1.4. match you with other users based on your interests and preferences;

4.1.5. improve our Website and services; and

4.1.6. comply with legal obligations.

4.2. We may also use your non-personal information for research and analytical purposes.

5. How long do we keep your information for?

5.1. Unless there is a specific legal requirement requiring us to keep your personal information, we will not keep it for longer than necessary for the purpose for which the information was collected.

6. How do we protect your personal information?

6.1. We take the security of your personal information seriously and have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no security measures are 100% fool proof, and we cannot guarantee the security of your personal information.

7. How do we share your personal information?

7.1. We may share your personal information with:

7.1.1. Service providers who help us operate our Website and provide our services, such as hosting and payment processing.

7.1.2. Other users on our Website, but only with your consent

7.2. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

8. How can you access and control your personal information?

8.1. You can access and update your personal information at any time by logging into your account on our Website. You can also delete your account and all associated information by contacting us at admin@smooches.co.za

9. What are your rights?

9.1. Under the South African Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the right to:

9.1.1.  access your personal information;

9.1.2.  correct your personal information;

9.1.3.  object to the processing of your personal information;

9.1.4.  delete your personal information; and

9.1.5.  lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator.

9.2. Please contact us at admin@smooches.co.za if you would like to exercise any of these rights.

10. What are cookies?

10.1. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit a website. They are used to remember your preferences and improve your browsing experience. Cookies can be divided into two categories: session cookies, and persistent cookies. Session cookies are deleted when you close your browser, while persistent cookies remain on your device until they expire or are deleted.

11. What cookies do we use?

11.1. We use cookies to improve your experience on our Website, including:

11.1.1. Essential cookies: These cookies are necessary for the Website to function properly. They include cookies that enable you to log in to your account, use other essential features of the Website.

11.1.2. Analytical cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Website by collecting information such as the number of visitors, where they came from, and which pages they visited. This information helps us improve the Website and make it more user-friendly.

11.1.3. Advertising cookies: These cookies are used to deliver personalised advertisements to you based on your interests and browsing behaviour.

12. How to manage your cookie preferences:

12.1. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, or to be notified when a website tries to set a cookie. However, please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect your browsing experience and prevent you from using certain features of our Website.

13. General Clause

13.1. These terms shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

13.2. The user shall not be entitled to cede their rights or assign their rights or delegate their obligations in terms of these Terms of Use to any third party without the prior consent of Smooches Online Dating.