FoodChat Privacy Policy

Last updated: 13 October 2026

FoodChat is a WhatsApp ordering service provided by ChatOrder (Pty) Ltd (registration 2026/616766/07), South Africa. We respect your privacy and that of the customers who order through restaurants that use FoodChat. This policy explains what personal information we process, why, and how it is protected, in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

1. Who we are and our role

ChatOrder (Pty) Ltd provides the FoodChat platform. When you order from a restaurant through FoodChat, that restaurant is the responsible party for your information, and ChatOrder acts as its operator, processing your information only on the restaurant's instructions to deliver the service. The customer records belong to the restaurant and are kept in that restaurant's own records.

2. What we collect

  • Restaurant clients and enquiries: name, email address, phone or WhatsApp number, business name and details, and the documents needed to set up the service.
  • Customers ordering through FoodChat: WhatsApp number and profile name, order details and history, delivery address or shared location pin (for deliveries), loyalty programme activity, and messages exchanged with the restaurant's ordering number.
  • Payments: card payments are processed by PayFast. FoodChat never sees or stores your card details. We receive only the payment confirmation needed to complete your order.
  • Website: basic technical information such as pages visited, used only to improve this site.

3. Why we process it

  • To take, confirm, prepare and deliver your order, and to send order updates and receipts.
  • To run the restaurant's loyalty programme and, if you have agreed, send specials and promotions.
  • To respond to enquiries and set up restaurant clients.
  • To meet legal, tax and record-keeping obligations.

4. WhatsApp and Meta

FoodChat uses the official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API) provided by Meta. Messages you send pass through Meta's systems and are also subject to WhatsApp's own terms and privacy policy. FoodChat is not affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsApp LLC or Meta Platforms, Inc.

5. Sharing

We do not sell personal information. We share it only with:

  • the restaurant you ordered from;
  • its delivery drivers, limited to what is needed to deliver your order;
  • service providers we need to run the service: Meta (messaging), PayFast (payments), and our cloud hosting provider.

6. Marketing

You can stop promotional messages at any time by replying STOP to any broadcast, or by contacting us. Order-related messages will still be sent while you have an active order.

7. Your rights and data deletion

Under POPIA you may ask to access, correct or delete your personal information, or object to its processing.

To request deletion: email info@foodchat.co.za with the subject "Delete my data" and the WhatsApp number you ordered from. We will confirm your request and delete your information, or arrange its deletion with the restaurant concerned, within 30 days. The only exception is records we are legally required to keep, such as tax and payment records.

8. Retention and security

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes above or as required by law. We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect it, including access controls and encrypted connections.

9. Contact and complaints

Information Officer: Robin van Rensburg
ChatOrder (Pty) Ltd
Email: info@foodchat.co.za

If you are not satisfied with how we handle your information, you may complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za.