Effective date: 6 April 2026 · Last updated: 12 April 2026
African Table ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), No. 4 of 2013. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights as a data subject.
1. Who We Are
African Table is operated by NanoLeap Automation Systems, a Johannesburg-based company. We are a pan-African food intelligence platform that organises publicly shared food recommendations into a curated, searchable directory.
For privacy-related queries, please contact us via our enquiry form at theafricantable.com/about.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Email address — when you subscribe to our newsletter or download a guide
- Spot submissions — restaurant name, location, description, and any social media links you choose to submit via our "Submit a Spot" form
- Featured listing enquiries — business name, contact details, and listing preferences
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Usage data — pages visited, time on site, referring URLs, browser type, device type
- IP address — for security, fraud prevention, and geographic analytics
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies — see Section 4 below
2.3 Publicly Available Social Media Content
Our intelligence engine collects publicly posted food-related content from TikTok and Instagram using authorised data collection services. We only process content that users have made publicly visible. We do not collect private messages, account passwords, or any non-public information.
3. How We Use Your Information
- To send newsletter emails and guide downloads you have requested
- To display and improve the African Table food directory
- To process featured listing enquiries and advertising arrangements
- To analyse site traffic and improve user experience
- To prevent fraud and ensure platform security
- To comply with our legal obligations under South African law
We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
4. Cookies
African Table uses cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
4.1 Google AdSense
We display advertisements served by Google AdSense. Google uses cookies (including the DoubleClick cookie) to serve ads based on your prior visits to our site and other sites on the internet. You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
4.2 Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our site. Google Analytics sets cookies that collect anonymous usage data. You can opt out via the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
4.3 Firebase
Our platform runs on Google Firebase, which may set functional cookies required for the application to operate correctly (authentication state, session management).
4.4 Managing Cookies
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some features on our site. For more information, visit aboutcookies.org.
5. Third-Party Services
We work with the following third-party services that may process your data:
- Google (Alphabet Inc.) — Firebase hosting/database, Analytics, AdSense
- Apify Technologies s.r.o. — authorised data collection infrastructure
- TikTok and Instagram/Meta — source platforms for publicly posted food content
- Gumroad Inc. — digital guide sales and payment processing
- PayFast (DPO PayGate) — South African payment processing for featured listings
Each of these services has its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review them.
6. Your Rights Under POPIA
As a data subject under POPIA, you have the following rights:
- Right of access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Right to correction — request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Right to deletion — request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
- Right to object — object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing
- Right to complain — lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us via our enquiry form at theafricantable.com/about. We will respond within 30 days.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal information for a maximum of 24 months from the date of collection, unless a longer retention period is required by law or necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. Newsletter subscriber data is retained until you unsubscribe.
8. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS), Firebase security rules restricting database access, and limited internal access to personal data on a need-to-know basis. No method of internet transmission is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children's Privacy
African Table is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately via our enquiry form at theafricantable.com/about.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
11. Contact & Complaints
For privacy enquiries or to exercise your POPIA rights, please contact us via our enquiry form at theafricantable.com/about.
- Company: NanoLeap Automation Systems, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Website: theafricantable.com
Information Regulator of South Africa
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator:
- Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg
- Email: inforeg@justice.gov.za
- Physical address: JD House, 27 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001