Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

This Privacy Policy explains how Nico Technologies cc trading as SHOVIQ (“SHOVIQ”, “we”, “us” or “our”) collects, uses, stores, shares and protects personal information.

Under POPIA, SHOVIQ may be a responsible party for information needed to operate its services and an operator processing information for a host society, club, federation, venue or organiser. A host organisation may also be a responsible party for information it decides to collect and use.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to the SHOVIQ website, registration flows, Animal Vault, show entries and payments, show-administration tools, support channels, catalogues, results services, communications and related products.

It does not replace a host organiser’s privacy notice where that organisation independently determines processing. Read both notices where applicable.

3. Personal Information We Collect

3.1 Account and Contact Information

• Name, username, email address, mobile or WhatsApp number and account credentials.
• Postal, physical, farm, stud or business address where needed for administration, invoicing or participation.
• Organisation, club, society, representative, stud or farm details.
• Roles such as exhibitor, owner, trainer, secretary, judge, steward or administrator.

3.2 Animal and Show Information

• Animal name, species, breed, sex, birth date, colour, registration number, ring code, microchip, passport and identification details.
• Pedigree, breeder, owner, stud, farm, representative, handler, rider and trainer relationships.
• Entries, classes, declarations, catalogue information, schedules, scores, placings, awards and results.
• Veterinary, vaccination, movement, eligibility or welfare information supplied where lawfully required.

3.3 Payment and Transaction Information

We may process invoices, transaction references, payment status, refund information, billing details and limited payment metadata. Independent providers process payments. SHOVIQ does not intend to store full card numbers, security codes or online-banking passwords.

3.4 Communications and Support

We collect information submitted through support requests, enquiries, problem reports, refund requests, surveys and communications with organisers.

3.5 Technical and Usage Information

This may include IP address, browser, operating system, device identifiers, language, approximate location derived from IP, network information, visited pages, used features, timestamps, referring pages, error logs, performance data and security events.

3.6 Information About Minors

SHOVIQ may process limited information about junior participants. A minor should not independently create an account or provide information where adult consent is required. The parent, guardian or authorised representative is responsible for appropriate consent and accurate information.

4. How We Collect Information

Information may come:

• Directly from you when creating an account, maintaining an Animal Vault, entering, paying or contacting support.
• From an authorised representative, trainer, secretary, society, club or organiser acting on your behalf.
• From official studbooks, breed or show records where lawfully available and necessary.
• Automatically through logs, cookies and consented analytics.
• From payment, communication, fraud-prevention and contracted service providers.

5. Why We Use Personal Information

We process information to:

• Create and administer accounts.
• Maintain the Animal Vault and relationships between animals, people and shows.
• Process entries, eligibility, classes, schedules, catalogues, scoring and results.
• Process invoices, payments, refunds, settlements, reconciliation and fraud checks.
• Provide support, service notices and security alerts.
• Improve reliability, usability, accessibility, performance and security.
• Prevent and investigate abuse, fraud and unauthorised access.
• Meet legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, court and official requirements.
• Send optional marketing where consent or another lawful basis permits.
• Manage suppliers, claims, disputes and business operations.

6. Lawful Basis and POPIA Conditions

Processing may rely on consent, a contract or requested pre-contractual step, legal obligation, protection of a legitimate interest or another ground recognised by POPIA.

Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw it. Withdrawal does not invalidate lawful processing already completed and may affect our ability to provide a requested service.

7. Public Catalogues, Results and Sporting Records

Depending on the show, published information may include an animal’s name, species, breed, registration or ring number, owner or stud, handler or rider, class, score, placing, award and show history.

We do not intentionally publish telephone numbers, email addresses, identity numbers, complete payment details, passwords or residential addresses in public catalogues or results.

Requests to remove or change public results may be limited where information forms part of an official sporting record, is needed for integrity or audit, or must be retained by law.

8. Children’s Personal Information

When processing a child’s information, SHOVIQ applies POPIA safeguards. We may require parent or guardian consent, proof of authority or verification before accepting or publishing information.

Only information reasonably required for participation, eligibility, scheduling, results, safety and administration should be provided. Do not upload a child’s identity document or sensitive information unless requested through a secure and lawful process.

9. Sharing and Disclosure

Where necessary and lawful, information may be shared with:

• The relevant society, club, federation, committee, venue or authorised administrator.
• Judges, stewards, veterinarians, officials and secretaries performing authorised duties.
• Payment processors, banks, accounting providers, refund administrators and fraud services.
• Hosting, database, backup, email, SMS, WhatsApp, support, analytics, security and infrastructure providers.
• Professional advisers, auditors, insurers and legal representatives.
• Regulators, courts, law-enforcement and government authorities.
• A prospective or actual successor in a business transaction, subject to safeguards.

We do not sell personal information or disclose it for unrelated direct marketing without a lawful basis and required consent.

10. Service Providers and Cross-Border Processing

Some providers may use infrastructure outside South Africa. Before transferring information across borders, SHOVIQ applies POPIA safeguards such as adequacy checks, contracts, consent or another permitted basis.

Our provider list may change. Providers are recorded in internal processing documentation and notices are updated where required.

11. Direct Marketing

Account, entry, payment and show-operation communications are service messages, not optional marketing.

Promotional messages are sent only where law permits. They include a practical unsubscribe mechanism. You may withdraw marketing consent through the message or by contacting support.

12. Cookies and Similar Technologies

12.1 Essential Technologies

Essential technologies support security, account sessions, preferences, form continuity, payments, accessibility and core functionality.

12.2 Optional Analytics and Marketing

With your choice and where lawful, SHOVIQ may use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Microsoft Clarity or similar tools to understand traffic, measure campaigns and improve the website. Optional tools do not activate before the required consent.

12.3 Cookie Controls

The cookie preference centre allows you to accept all, reject non-essential cookies or select categories. You can reopen it using the footer link. Browser settings are also available, although disabling essential technologies may affect functionality.

13. Information Security

Reasonable safeguards may include HTTPS encryption, access controls, role permissions, authentication protections, backups, monitoring, audit logs, supplier controls, secure development and incident-response procedures.

No online service guarantees absolute security. Protect your password, keep details current and report suspected unauthorised access immediately.

14. Data Retention

We retain information only as long as reasonably needed to provide services, maintain accurate sporting and financial records, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, meet legal obligations or protect legitimate interests.

Different records may have different retention periods. When information is no longer required, we delete, anonymise or securely destroy it, subject to backups and lawful retention.

15. Your Rights

Subject to law, you may request to:

• Know whether we hold information about you.
• Access your information and understand how it is used.
• Correct, update or delete inaccurate, outdated, excessive or unlawful information.
• Object to or restrict processing where appropriate.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on it.
• Object to direct marketing.
• Request review of certain automated decisions where applicable.
• Complain to the Information Regulator.

We may verify identity or lawfully limit a request where another person’s rights, security, an investigation or a retention obligation would be affected.

16. Exercising Your Rights

Email shoviq@nicotechnologies.co.za with your name, contact details, the request and a relevant account or show reference. We may request reasonable proof of identity.

We respond in the period required by law and explain a lawful delay, refusal or need for more information.

17. Information Officer and Complaints

• Privacy and Information Officer: shoviq@nicotechnologies.co.za
• General support: shoviq@nicotechnologies.co.za

Contact us first so the concern can be investigated. You may also contact the South African Information Regulator through its official channels.

18. Data Breach Notifications

If a compromise results in unauthorised access or acquisition and notification is required, we notify the Information Regulator and affected data subjects under POPIA. A notice may describe the incident, information involved, likely consequences and protective steps.

19. Third-Party Websites

SHOVIQ may link to organisers, payment providers, social networks, venues and other websites. Their policies govern their processing. Review them before providing information. SHOVIQ is not responsible for third-party processing outside its control.

20. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy when the Platform, providers, law or processing changes. The current version and updated date are published here. Material changes receive an appropriate notice and consent is obtained where required.

21. Contact Details

• Legal entity: Nico Technologies cc trading as SHOVIQ
• Privacy and POPIA: shoviq@nicotechnologies.co.za
• Legal notices: shoviq@nicotechnologies.co.za
• General support: shoviq@nicotechnologies.co.za
• Website: www.shoviq.co.za
• Jurisdiction: Republic of South Africa