Recently, according to Petanque Consultancy it was reported that over 487 million records were leaked in one year. Cyber-attacks, human error, hacking, and data swiped all lead to lives being ruined. Therefore, POPIA is very important in your business.
POPIA refers to South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act which seeks to regulate the processing of personal information. This includes information such as an individual’s contact details, place of work, financial information, physical address and medical history, to name but a few.
Under POPIA, companies must comply with the Act and only hold the information required for as long as required. In addition, the information they hold at any time must be protected to minimise the risk of data breaches and leaks.
Not only is it important and a legal obligation for companies to comply with the POPI Act, but it is beneficial to creating a culture of trust between the customer and the business. Non-compliance with the Act could expose companies, or the chief compliance officer in charge, to a penalty, fine or up to 10 years of imprisonment.
With POPIA already having been signed into law, and certain sections of the Act already commenced, it is only limited to a few sections. The majority of POPI (especially the sections that create compliance requirements) will only commence on a later date to be proclaimed by the President, which is still yet to be known. However, it will not be before the Information Regulator is operational, which might be at the end of 2017 but may only be in 2018. The commencement date will not be after December 2018. Bear in mind that there is a one-year grace period that runs from the commencement date and you only have to comply with POPI at the end of the grace period. This is why it is more important than ever for compliance officers to fully understand the law and their roles in its implementation in their companies.
The 14th Cape Conference, on 18 May 2017, is an event that promises to do just this, by lifting the veil on compliance regulations such as those outlined by POPIA.
At the event, which will be hosted at the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, Russell Opland, renowned Global Privacy (POPIA) Business Expert, will be sharing his insights on data privacy and the new POPI Act. He’s one of the distinguished leaders in the field who will facilitate discussion that will shape the future of compliance in Africa. You can also expect to hear from Michael Judin, Charene Nortier and Braam Malherbe and more. Here’s the line-up of expert speakers you can expect when you attend the 14th Cape Conference.
We invite all delegates from all industries to understand the importance of compliance in Africa, as well as the challenges and opportunities for the profession across the continent. The aim of this event is to provide delegates with a deeper understanding of the industry, the legislative realities impacting it, and the compliance officer’s role in shaping the future of compliance in Africa. Click here to view the website.
This is the only platform in Africa where you can gain insight into the latest compliance best practices. In addition, get the latest products, services and innovations influencing the industry that will be on exhibition.
Register to attend the 14th Cape Conference and get the tools and knowledge you need to mitigate your company’s potential regulatory and reputational risks.
The 14th Cape Conference is brought to you by the Compliance Institute Southern Africa. It is the recognised, independent professional body for the compliance profession and endeavours to set, maintain and promote best practice standards by facilitating professional development and accreditation for its members.
Book your seat today and be part of shaping the future of compliance in Africa.
