How we look after your information.

Who we are

This website is run by GC Solar (Pty) Ltd, registration number 2021/689513/07 ("GC Solar", "we", "us"). We are the responsible party for the personal information you give us through this website, under the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

Our head office is at N1 Business Park, 6 Slate Avenue, Samrand Business Park, Midrand, 1684. You can reach us on 012 030 1166 or info@gcsolar.co.za.

What we collect

We only collect what you choose to send us, plus basic information about how the site is used.

• Contact details: your name, email address, phone number, company name, town and province.
• Enquiry details: what you need quoted, project size and timeline, the programme you are interested in, and anything you write in a message box.
• Application details (partners, installers and dealers): business name, registration and VAT numbers, trading area, experience, brands and the documents you upload.
• Usage information: pages visited, how you got here, device and browser type and an approximate location, collected by Google Analytics only if you accept analytics cookies.

We do not ask for ID numbers, banking details or special personal information through this website. Please do not include them in a message.

Why we use it

• To reply to your enquiry and prepare the quote, proposal or information you asked for.
• To assess partner, installer and dealer applications and set up approved accounts.
• To enrol you on training and keep in touch about the course you asked about.
• To support products we supplied, including warranty claims.
• To understand which pages help people and improve the site (analytics, with your consent).

We process your information because you asked us to (to take steps towards a quote, order or application), because you gave consent (the tick box on each form and the cookie notice), or for our legitimate interest in running and improving this website.

Where it goes and who sees it

Form submissions go straight into our customer records system, Zoho CRM, run by Zoho Corporation. Only GC Solar staff who need your enquiry to help you can see it. Analytics data is processed by Google.

Zoho and Google may store information on servers outside South Africa. We use them because they are bound by data-protection terms that give your information a level of protection similar to POPIA, as section 72 of POPIA requires.

We do not sell your information. We do not pass your details to anyone else, such as a finance partner, installer or dealer near you, without your consent, unless the law requires us to.

Cookies and analytics

When you first visit, we ask how you want cookies used. Your choice is saved in your browser.

• Essential only: just what the site needs to work, such as remembering your cookie choice. No analytics.
• Accept all: adds Google Analytics, which uses cookies to count visits and see how pages are used. It does not tell us who you are.

You can change your choice at any time with the button below, or clear cookies in your browser settings.

How long we keep it

We keep your information only for as long as we need it for the reason you gave it to us, for example while we quote, supply, install, support or train, and afterwards only as long as tax, accounting or other laws require. Then we delete it or make it anonymous.

Keeping it safe

This site and our forms use encrypted (HTTPS) connections. Access to our records is limited to staff who need it and protected by passwords. If we ever learn that your information has been accessed without permission, we will tell you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.

Your rights

Under POPIA you can:

• Ask whether we hold information about you and get a copy of it.
• Ask us to correct information that is wrong or out of date.
• Ask us to delete information we no longer have a reason to keep.
• Object to us using your information, or withdraw consent you gave, including for marketing.
• Complain to the Information Regulator.

To use any of these rights, email our Information Officer (details below). We may ask you to confirm who you are before we act, and we will reply within a reasonable time.

Contact and complaints

We may update this policy when the website or the law changes. The date at the top shows the latest version.