POPIA Privacy Notice

1. Who we are

MentorLab is operated by Tech Horizons (KZNTH). This platform connects students and young innovators with experienced mentors.

2. What personal data we collect

• Full name, email address, and password (required)
• Institution or company name
• Areas of interest (e.g. Cybersecurity, Web Dev)
• Profile photo and bio (optional)
• Session notes, chat messages, and feedback ratings
• Mentor availability slots and session history

3. Why we collect it

To match mentees with suitable mentors, schedule and host video calls, enable in-app chat, and improve the platform. We also use data for basic analytics (e.g. number of active users).

4. Who has access

• Mentors see your profile, session requests, and chat messages only after you are matched.
• Admins (KZNTH staff) can see all users, sessions, and chat logs for oversight and support.
• We do not sell your data to third parties.

5. How long we keep it

Your data is kept while your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove personal identifiers within 30 days. Inactive accounts (no login for 2 years) may be anonymised.

6. Your rights (POPIA)

You have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data. Contact the admin at admin@kznth.co.za and we will respond within 7 days.

7. Cookies and third parties

We use essential cookies for login sessions only. Our video calls are powered by Jitsi (open source) with no third-party tracking.