How we collect, use, share and protect your personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Last updated: 27 June 2026
Your privacy is important to us. We strive to ensure that our use of your personal information is lawful, reasonable and relevant to our business activities, with the goal of improving our services and your experience.
To provide you with financial and credit products and services, we need to collect, use, share and store personal and financial information about you, in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (“POPIA”). This notice explains how Manati Alternate Student Funding keeps your personal information secure, and sets out your rights and how to exercise them. It covers information you share with us, information we gather during our relationship with you, and information about your marketing preferences.
Personal information is data that can be used to identify you. This includes, but is not limited to, names, ages, identity numbers, registration numbers, addresses and other contact details, income and payment records, financial information and banking details.
Where we use third-party data providers, we ensure they have obtained the required consent to share information with us. We only collect information that is necessary and relevant to the service or product provided, and we will not collect it without your prior consent or as prescribed by law.
With your consent where required, we may use your personal information to:
We may record and monitor communications between you and us to verify instructions, improve our services, and for training and quality purposes. We will not sell your information to third parties.
We may contact you by post, phone, SMS, email, WhatsApp and other electronic media about products that may interest you or about your loan agreement. In line with POPIA, we will only send you electronic direct marketing where you have consented or where otherwise permitted by law, and every marketing message gives you a way to opt out. You can ask us to start or stop sending you marketing messages at any time, in writing, by phone or via our website.
It is your right to refuse to provide personal information, but this may limit our ability to provide the required services to you.
We disclose your personal information to third parties only where:
For example, where a payment fails due to insufficient funds, or where required to protect the public interest, information about a client's debt may be disclosed to credit bureaux or debt-collection agencies. When sharing information with recipients in other jurisdictions, we ensure they are bound by similar privacy protections, by law or by agreement.
We use third-party vendors based inside and outside South Africa. Such vendors subscribe to protections similar to or better than POPIA. Compliance with section 72 of POPIA is achieved through the necessary contractual commitments from the relevant third parties. In any cross-border transfer, the recipient is notified of the need to protect the confidentiality of your personal information.
We are committed to keeping your information secure. To prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard the information we collect.
We retain your information only for as long as we need it for the purpose it was collected, or as required by law (including tax legislation) and other statutory obligations. Retention periods vary depending on regulatory requirements. We take all reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify personal information once it is no longer required.
We sometimes use cookies to personalise your repeat visits to our website and online application. Cookies are small text files that may be stored on your device when you visit a website. We use them to understand which pages are used, to analyse web traffic and to improve our website. We only use this information for statistical purposes. A cookie does not give us access to your device or any information about you other than the data you choose to share. You can set your browser to accept or decline cookies; declining may prevent you from using the website fully.
Where our website or online application links to third-party sites, we are not responsible for any use of your personal information on those sites.
Under POPIA you have the right to:
To verify, update or amend the information we hold, or to exercise any of these rights, you can email privacy@manati.co.za or call us on +27 10 594 5398.
Information Officer and Deputy Information Officer
Email: privacy@manati.co.za
For requests to access records, see our PAIA page.
If you believe we have used your personal information unlawfully, please raise it with us first so we can try to resolve it. If you are not satisfied, you have the right to complain to the Information Regulator:
The Information Regulator (South Africa)
Woodmead North Office Park, 54 Maxwell Drive, Woodmead, Johannesburg, 2191
Tel: 010 023 5200 · Toll-free: 0800 017 160
General: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za
POPIA complaints: POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za
Website: inforegulator.org.za
By using the Manati website and/or online loan application, you agree to the transfer of your personal information and to be bound by this Privacy Notice.
We may amend this Privacy Notice from time to time. The latest version will always be displayed on our website, and it is your responsibility to stay acquainted with it.
Manati Alternate Student Funding (Reg. No. 2015/235473/07) is a registered credit provider (NCRCP8052). We provide innovative funding solutions for prospective university and college students across South Africa who are unable to study because they cannot afford it or cannot secure financing.