Data Retention Policy
Last updated: 4 April 2026
This policy sets out retention periods and deletion processes for MaidServSA data, in line with POPIA section 14 ( retention limitation).
Table of Contents
- 1. Retention Principles
- 2. Retention Schedule
- 3. Deletion and Anonymization
- 4. Legal Holds and Exceptions
- 5. Data Subject Deletion Requests
1. Retention Principles
- Data is retained only for as long as needed for service delivery, dispute handling, legal compliance, and security.
- Retention periods may be extended where legally required or where a verified dispute/investigation is active.
2. Retention Schedule
| Data category | Typical retention period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Account and profile records | While account is active + reasonable archival period | Includes sign-in and profile information |
| Jobs and job history | Minimum 3 years after job closure | Supports dispute and compliance evidence |
| Applications | Tied to job lifecycle and related dispute window | Historical audit of hiring decisions |
| Messages | While relevant job/dispute context remains active | Deleting a message preserves limited audit information |
| Ratings and reports | Retained for trust/safety and abuse prevention | Visibility may be moderated |
| Notifications | 12 months default operational window | Includes basic de-duplication information |
| Experience answers | While user profile is active | Deleted/anonymized with account closure where applicable |
| File metadata and objects | While linked to active account/features | Can be removed on account deletion or support request |
3. Deletion and Anonymization
3.1 Message soft-delete behavior
When a message is deleted through the platform:
- The message text is cleared
- Any attachments are cleared
- The time of deletion and who deleted it are recorded
This preserves limited audit context while removing visible content.
3.2 Account deletion workflow
Account deletion requests are processed through support review and may involve:
- Identity verification
- Removal or anonymization of personal fields
- De-linking file references and removing stored file objects where appropriate
3.3 Anonymization
Where full deletion is not possible due to legal/operational requirements, data may be anonymized to remove direct identifiers.
4. Legal Holds and Exceptions
MaidServSA may preserve records beyond normal retention periods for:
- Ongoing investigations
- Fraud/safety incidents
- Litigation or legal obligations
- Law enforcement requests where legally valid
5. Data Subject Deletion Requests
Under POPIA section 24 context, users may request deletion or destruction of personal information where legally permitted.
- Request channel:
support@maidservsa.co.za - Target response window: within 30 days where reasonably possible
- Some data may be retained if required by law or active dispute handling
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