Privacy Policy
Last updated: 29 July 2026 · Applies to the GoldChat app and web service
Who we are
GoldChat is operated by iSinkwaMtase (South Africa). Contact / Information Officer: isinkwamtase@gmail.com. We process personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
What we collect, and why
- Phone number — used once to verify your account with a one-time code (delivered via WhatsApp or SMS). Your number is never shown to other users and is not used for discovery: friends find you by username only.
- Username and display name — your public identity in the app.
- Messages, photos, voice notes and statuses — stored on our South African server so we can deliver them to your chats. Statuses expire after 24 hours.
- Blocks and reports — kept to enforce safety.
We do not collect your contact list, location history (the 📍 button shares a location only when you tap it), advertising identifiers, or analytics profiles.
Who we share data with
- Twilio (OTP delivery) — receives your phone number solely to deliver your verification code via WhatsApp/SMS.
- HOSTAFRICA — our hosting provider; servers are located in South Africa.
We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it with advertisers.
Security — an honest note
All traffic between your device and our servers is encrypted in transit (HTTPS). GoldChat messages are not yet end-to-end encrypted (only encrypted in transit and stored on our SA servers); end-to-end encryption is on our roadmap. Please don't share sensitive credentials in chats.
Your rights (POPIA)
- Deletion: delete your account any time in-app (⚙ → Delete my account) — this permanently removes your profile, statuses and requests. Or see our account deletion page.
- Access / correction: email us and we will respond within 30 days.
- Complaints: you may lodge a complaint with the SA Information Regulator (inforegulator.org.za).
Retention
Account data is kept until you delete your account. Statuses are removed from feeds after 24 hours. One-time codes expire after 10 minutes.
Children
GoldChat is for users aged 13 and older. See our Child Safety Standards.
Changes
We'll post any changes to this page and update the date above.