Introduction
New Haven Funeral Centre (“New Haven”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of every family we serve. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you interact with us — whether through our website, by phone, in person, or as part of our membership and funeral services.
We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and other applicable South African data protection laws. By using our website or engaging our services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
We understand that the nature of our work means we often handle sensitive and deeply personal information during a family’s most difficult moments. We treat this responsibility with the utmost care, confidentiality, and respect.
Information We Collect
We collect personal information necessary to provide our funeral and membership services, operate our website, and communicate with you. This may include:
Information You Provide Directly
- Full name, identity number, date of birth, and contact details
- Membership application and family member information (spouse, children, dependants)
- Banking and payment details for membership fees
- Information relating to the deceased, including medical and death certificate details, where required to arrange a funeral
- Religious, cultural, or personal preferences for funeral arrangements
- Communications sent via our contact forms, email, WhatsApp, or telephone
Information Collected Automatically
- IP address, browser type, and device information
- Pages visited, time spent, and general browsing behaviour on our website
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 9)
How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:
- To process and manage your funeral membership and arrange funeral services
- To verify identity and confirm beneficiaries or covered family members
- To process payments and manage billing and membership records
- To communicate with you regarding your membership, services, or enquiries
- To coordinate documentation for local and international transportation or repatriation
- To produce memorial materials such as programmes, videos, and tribute links, where requested
- To comply with legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations
- To improve our website and services through general, non-identifying analytics
Legal Basis For Processing
In accordance with POPIA, we only process personal information where we have a valid legal basis to do so, including:
- Consent — where you have given us clear permission to process your information for a specified purpose
- Contractual necessity — where processing is required to fulfil our membership agreement or funeral service arrangement with you
- Legal obligation — where we are required by law to collect or retain certain information
- Legitimate interest — where processing is reasonably necessary for our operations and does not override your rights and interests
Sharing Of Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only where necessary, with the following parties:
- Cemetery, crematorium, and burial site authorities, as required to complete arrangements
- Transportation partners, airlines, and customs or border authorities for repatriation services
- Government departments (such as Home Affairs) for death notice and documentation purposes
- Payment processors and financial institutions for membership fee collection
- Service providers who support our operations (such as IT hosting or printing services), bound by confidentiality obligations
- Legal or regulatory authorities, where required by law
Any third party with whom we share information is contractually required to protect it in accordance with POPIA and to use it only for the specific purpose for which it was shared.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law. Membership and service records are typically retained for the duration of the membership plus a reasonable period thereafter for legal, audit, and record-keeping purposes.
Where information is no longer required, we will securely delete or anonymise it in accordance with our internal data retention procedures.
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These measures include restricted access to personal records, secure storage systems, and staff training on confidentiality and data handling.
While we take every reasonable precaution, no method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure. We encourage you to also take care when sharing personal information with us, particularly via unsecured channels such as email.
Your Rights Under POPIA
As a data subject under South African law, you have the right to:
- Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of personal information, subject to our legal retention obligations
- Object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances
- Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your rights have been infringed
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 13. We will respond to all valid requests within a reasonable timeframe, in accordance with POPIA.
Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, understand how visitors use our site, and ensure core functionality operates correctly.
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Required for core website functionality, such as page navigation and security. | Session |
| Analytics | Helps us understand how visitors interact with our website, in aggregate and anonymised form. | Up to 12 months |
| Form Submission | Used by our contact form provider (Formspree) to process enquiry submissions securely. | As required by provider |
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.
Children’s Privacy
Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children. Information relating to minors (such as dependants covered under a family membership plan) is collected only from a parent or legal guardian, with their consent, for the purpose of providing membership benefits.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, such as social media platforms or partner organisations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party website you visit.
Changes To This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise any of your rights regarding your personal information, please contact us: