Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

GKM Environmental (“GKM Environmental”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting personal information and respecting the privacy of all individuals who interact with us.

This Privacy Policy explains how GKM Environmental collects, uses, stores, processes and protects personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), including information provided through the GKM Environmental website at https://www.gkmenvironmental.co.za/ and through environmental consultation and public participation processes administered by GKM Environmental.

PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

GKM Environmental may collect personal information when individuals:

  • Register as Interested and Affected Parties (“I&APs”)

  • Participate in environmental public participation or consultation processes

  • Submit comments, representations or objections relating to a project

  • Submit enquiries through the GKM Environmental website

  • Contact GKM Environmental by email, telephone or other communication channels

  • Request environmental project information, reports or supporting documentation

  • Submit information or documentation through a project portal or project-related form

  • Correspond with GKM Environmental regarding environmental assessments, authorisations, compliance or related services

Depending on the nature of the interaction, personal information collected may include:

  • Name and surname

  • Email address

  • Telephone or mobile number

  • Organisation, company or affiliation

  • Job title or professional capacity, where relevant

  • Physical or postal address, where required

  • Project or property-related information

  • Comments, correspondence, submissions or representations

  • Records of communications with GKM Environmental

  • Any other information voluntarily supplied to us

GKM Environmental will only collect information that is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is being processed.

PURPOSE OF COLLECTION

Personal information may be collected and processed for purposes including:

  • Maintaining stakeholder and Interested and Affected Party databases

  • Administering environmental public participation processes

  • Distributing project notices, updates and relevant documentation

  • Recording and responding to comments, concerns, objections and representations

  • Responding to website enquiries and requests for information

  • Providing environmental consulting and related professional services

  • Supporting environmental impact assessment and environmental authorisation processes

  • Communicating with clients, stakeholders, authorities and service providers

  • Maintaining appropriate project and regulatory records

  • Meeting contractual, professional, statutory and regulatory obligations

  • Complying with applicable environmental legislation and other legal requirements

  • Protecting the legitimate interests and legal rights of GKM Environmental, its clients and stakeholders

Where personal information is collected for a specific project, it will be processed in accordance with the requirements applicable to that project and any relevant legal or regulatory obligations.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INFORMATION

Environmental assessment and authorisation processes may require GKM Environmental to maintain records of Interested and Affected Parties and comments received during public participation processes.

Certain information, comments or submissions may be required to form part of environmental assessment reports, public participation reports or records submitted to competent authorities.

Where disclosure is required for an environmental authorisation or regulatory process, GKM Environmental will endeavour to ensure that only information reasonably necessary for that process is disclosed.

DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Where reasonably necessary and legally permitted, personal information may be shared with:

  • Project applicants or clients

  • Competent environmental and regulatory authorities

  • Government departments or municipalities

  • Environmental specialists and professional consultants involved in a project

  • Service providers assisting GKM Environmental with project administration, communications, information technology, hosting or related functions

  • Professional advisers where necessary

  • Other parties where disclosure is authorised or required by law

GKM Environmental will not sell, rent or trade personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Where third-party service providers process personal information on behalf of GKM Environmental, reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that such information is handled securely and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

WEBSITE INFORMATION AND COOKIES

The GKM Environmental website may collect limited technical information when visitors use the website, including information such as:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) address

  • Browser and device information

  • Pages visited

  • Date and time of access

  • Referring website or source

The website may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for website functionality, security, performance or basic analytics.

Where consent is legally required for the use of particular cookies or tracking technologies, appropriate consent mechanisms may be implemented.

SECURITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

GKM Environmental implements reasonable and appropriate technical and organisational safeguards to protect personal information against:

  • Loss

  • Unauthorised access

  • Unlawful processing

  • Misuse

  • Alteration

  • Destruction

  • Unauthorised disclosure

While reasonable precautions are taken to protect information, no electronic transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

RETENTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

Personal information will only be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, comply with applicable environmental, contractual, statutory or regulatory requirements, or protect legitimate legal interests.

Certain environmental project records may need to be retained for extended periods where required by legislation, environmental authorisation processes, competent authorities or professional record-keeping requirements.

When personal information is no longer required and there is no lawful reason to retain it, reasonable steps will be taken to securely delete, destroy or de-identify it.

DATA SUBJECT RIGHTS

In accordance with POPIA, individuals may have the right to:

  • Request confirmation as to whether GKM Environmental holds personal information about them

  • Request access to their personal information

  • Request correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete information

  • Request deletion or destruction of personal information where legally permissible

  • Object to certain forms of processing

  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

  • Request information regarding how their personal information is being processed

  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa

Certain requests may be subject to limitations where GKM Environmental is legally required to retain or process particular information.

ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

Individuals are encouraged to ensure that personal information supplied to GKM Environmental is complete and accurate and to notify GKM Environmental where such information changes.

GKM Environmental may take reasonable steps to update or correct personal information where appropriate.

THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

The GKM Environmental website may contain links to external websites or online resources.

GKM Environmental is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of websites operated by third parties. Visitors are encouraged to review the privacy policies of external websites before providing personal information.

CHILDREN’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

GKM Environmental does not intentionally collect or process children’s personal information through its website unless this is legally permitted and reasonably necessary for a specific purpose.

Where children’s personal information is required, it will be processed in accordance with POPIA and other applicable legal requirements.

CONTACT DETAILS

Questions, requests or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of personal information by GKM Environmental may be directed to:

GKM Environmental

Telephone: +27 81 494 1611
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday, 08:00 – 17:00

Email: grace@gkmenvironmental.co.za
Customer Support: 24/7

Address:
Private Bag 159,

Postnet Suite X043,

Benoni,

1500
South Africa

Website: https://www.gkmenvironmental.co.za/

INFORMATION REGULATOR

Individuals who believe that their personal information has been processed contrary to POPIA have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.

Further information regarding the Information Regulator and the exercise of data subject rights is available through the Information Regulator’s official channels.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

GKM Environmental may amend or update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, regulatory requirements, business practices or the manner in which personal information is processed.

The latest version of this Privacy Policy will always be made available on the GKM Environmental website.

Last Updated: 31 August 2026