Privacy Policy

Near Surface Exploration and Drilling (Pty) Ltd
Effective Date: November 2025

Near Surface Exploration and Drilling (Pty) Ltd (“the Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or engage with our services.

If you do not agree with the practices described in this Policy, please do not use our website.

  1. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal information:

1.1 Information You Provide to Us

  • Name, surname, and contact details (email address, phone number)
  • Company name and job title
  • Enquiry details submitted through contact forms
  • Documents or files you voluntarily upload or send to us
  • Billing and invoicing information for service requests

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Device information
  • Pages visited and time spent on the site
  • Cookies and usage data

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies to enhance site functionality, improve user experience, and analyse traffic.
You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but some website features may not function correctly.

  1. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

  • To respond to enquiries or service requests
  • To provide quotations, proposals, and project documentation
  • To manage and deliver our geotechnical, drilling, and near-surface exploration services
  • For internal record-keeping and administrative purposes
  • To improve our website, services, and client communication
  • To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
  1. Legal Basis for Processing (POPIA & GDPR Aligned)

We process personal information based on:

  • Consent (e.g., submitting an enquiry form)
  • Contractual necessity (providing requested services)
  • Legitimate interests (business operations, analytics, service improvement)
  • Legal obligations (record-keeping, compliance)
  1. Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell or rent personal information. We may share data only with:

  • Service providers or contractors assisting in our operations (e.g., hosting, IT support)
  • Professional partners involved in project delivery (upon consent or contractual need)
  • Regulatory or law-enforcement authorities where required by law
  • Third-party analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics), which process data in accordance with their privacy practices

All third parties are required to maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy laws.

  1. Data Storage and Security

We employ appropriate physical, administrative, and technical security measures to safeguard your information.

Data is stored securely and only accessible to authorised personnel.

However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but take reasonable steps to protect your information.

  1. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as:

  • It is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected;
  • Required by law or regulatory obligations;
  • Required for legitimate business purposes.

Once no longer needed, information will be securely deleted or anonymised.

  1. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Request access to the personal information we hold about you
  • Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or unnecessary data
  • Withdraw consent (where applicable)
  • Object to certain types of processing
  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa)

Information Regulator (SA):
Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg/

  1. International Transfers

If your data is transferred outside South Africa, we ensure adequate protection through:

  • Data transfer agreements
  • Processing by reputable third-party service providers
  • Compliance with POPIA and international standards
  1. Links to External Websites

Our website may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites.

  1. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not intended for persons under the age of 18.
We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If such data is identified, it will be deleted.

  1. Intellectual Property for Image Usage

Some images, photographs, and media used on this website were generously shared by colleagues, contractors, and collaborators for the purpose of supporting website content.
All such images remain the intellectual property of their respective owners and are used with permission.

They may not be copied, downloaded, reused, or redistributed without written consent from the original owners and Near Surface Exploration and Drilling (Pty) Ltd.

  1. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time.

All changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Effective Date.” Continued use of our website constitutes acceptance of the amended Policy.

  1. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact:

Near Surface Exploration and Drilling (Pty) Ltd
Email: info@near-surface.co.za