Effective Date: April 4, 2025
Welcome to Pfunzo, your trusted partner in postgraduate and professional development across Africa. We are deeply committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting your personal data in accordance with applicable laws and best practices.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use the Pfunzo platform and associated services, including those provided via Africahied.
Pfunzo is an innovative educational platform focused on providing accessible, high-quality learning for African individuals and institutions. We are committed to fostering knowledge, career advancement, and research development across the continent.
Pfunzo and Africahied are operated by Peniel Consult (PTY) Ltd., a registered legal entity in South Africa. We assure all users that this ownership does not compromise or affect the privacy and security of their personal data. Peniel Consult (PTY) Ltd. adheres to strict data protection regulations, including South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and international best practices. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and transparency for all users of Pfunzo and Africahied.
We may collect the following types of data:
This includes your name, email address, contact number, academic affiliation or institution, and subscription or billing details (where applicable).
We collect information on your course enrollments, completions, and assessments; documents uploaded to the platform such as assignments or publications; micro-credentials and certificates earned; and metadata such as session logs, IP addresses, and browser or device information.
We collect your data to personalize your learning journey and provide tailored course recommendations; to generate academic certificates and track progress milestones; to power AI-supported tools and research functions via Africahied; to manage subscriptions and facilitate donations or institutional access; to improve platform functionality and user experience; and to ensure full compliance with academic and legal standards.
We do not sell your personal data. We may, however, share limited data with your affiliated institution (where relevant), trusted service providers such as cloud hosting and payment processors, and partners including Africahied, solely for enhancing your academic and research experience. We may also share data with legal authorities if required under applicable law. All third parties are required to adhere to confidentiality and data protection obligations aligned with our standards.
Institutional subscribers, course creators, and sponsors with access to learner data or content tools must comply with Pfunzo's data protection protocols and ethical standards. This includes respecting user consent settings, refraining from unauthorized data sharing or reuse, and undergoing periodic compliance checks. Continued affiliation with Pfunzo is contingent upon strict adherence to these privacy and data stewardship conditions.
Your data is stored securely using encrypted servers and protected through multi-layered security systems. Only authorized personnel with a legitimate operational need have access to your data. Our security framework is routinely assessed to ensure resilience against breaches and misuse.
As a Pfunzo user, you have the right to access and update your personal data, request the deletion of your account and associated information, withdraw consent for data processing, request data portability, and file complaints regarding violations of your data rights. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: [email protected].
We use cookies to maintain your session preferences, analyze platform usage for continuous improvement, and personalize your experience by recommending relevant courses and resources. You may modify cookie settings through your browser at any time.
Your data may be processed or stored outside your country of residence, including in South Africa. All cross-border data transfers are conducted in compliance with applicable legal frameworks and with appropriate safeguards in place to protect your information.
Pfunzo is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect or store data from minors. If such information is inadvertently collected, it will be deleted upon discovery.
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legal obligations, platform enhancements, or user feedback. All updates will be published on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the platform after changes implies acceptance of the revised terms.
For any questions or concerns regarding this policy or your data privacy:
Pfunzo Privacy Office
📧 Email: [email protected]
📧 Operated by Peniel Consult (PTY) Ltd., South Africa
Pfunzo is in its Early Access phase — and you're invited to shape the future of African education. As we roll out new features and modules, your subscription helps accelerate development and ensures that high-quality, very affordable learning reaches every corner of the continent. Join us early, and be part of something transformative.
