Last updated: 19 June 2026
The FG-CSSS Alumni Association respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you visit our website, register as an alumni member, contact us, attend events, contribute to alumni initiatives, or otherwise interact with the Association.
For the purposes of this policy, “FG-CSSS Alumni Association”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to the Fred Gaum / Ceres Senior Secondary Alumni Association.
1. Our commitment to your privacy
We process personal information responsibly and in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013, commonly known as POPIA.
We will only collect and use personal information where we have a lawful reason to do so, including alumni administration, communication, event coordination, membership record keeping, community support initiatives, and the preservation of the Fred Gaum / Ceres Senior Secondary legacy.
2. Personal information we collect
We may collect the following information when you use this website or complete one of our forms:
- Name and surname
- Maiden name or previous surname, where provided
- Email address
- Phone or WhatsApp number
- Date of birth, where provided
- Last year attended
- Current town or country
- Educator or former educator status, where selected
- Mentorship, coaching, volunteer or support interests
- Messages or additional notes submitted through our forms
- Information relating to events, donations, sponsorships, volunteering or alumni involvement
- Website usage information such as IP address, browser type, device information and pages visited
We only request information that is relevant to the activities of the Alumni Association.
3. How we use your information
We may use your personal information to:
- Maintain the alumni membership database
- Communicate with alumni, educators, supporters and volunteers
- Send updates about reunions, events, alumni news and Association initiatives
- Coordinate mentorship, coaching, volunteering and support opportunities
- Respond to enquiries submitted through the website
- Manage event registrations, sponsorships, donations or fundraising initiatives
- Verify or update alumni records
- Improve the website and protect it from spam, misuse or security risks
- Comply with legal, administrative or governance requirements
We will not sell your personal information.
4. WhatsApp, email and alumni communication
Because many alumni prefer WhatsApp communication, we may use your phone or WhatsApp number to send relevant Association updates.
These messages may include event information, alumni news, reunion updates, fundraising initiatives, volunteer opportunities and other matters directly related to the FG-CSSS Alumni Association.
You may ask us to stop contacting you at any time.
5. Birthdays and public recognition
Where date of birth information is provided, it may be used for internal alumni records and birthday-related alumni engagement.
We will not intentionally publish sensitive personal details such as your full date of birth, contact number or email address. If birthday notices, alumni acknowledgements, event photos or public recognition are shared on the website or social media, we will do so respectfully and only in a manner connected to the Alumni Association’s purpose.
If you do not want your name, photo or birthday acknowledged publicly, you may contact us and request that we do not publish it.
6. Photos, events and media
At alumni events, reunions, fundraising activities, school support events or public Association activities, photos and videos may be taken.
These may be used on the website, social media pages, newsletters or promotional material to document and celebrate the work of the Alumni Association.
If you appear in a photo and would like it removed from our website or official communication channels, please contact us and we will consider the request reasonably and respectfully.
7. Donations, sponsorships and financial support
If you make a donation, sponsor an initiative, support an event or contribute financially to the Association, we may collect information needed to record and administer that contribution.
This may include your name, contact details, amount contributed, payment reference, sponsorship details, or any information needed for financial record keeping.
We do not publish donor or sponsor details without permission, unless the information has already been provided for public acknowledgement.
8. Cookies and website technology
This website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve functionality, remember user preferences, protect forms from spam, and understand general website usage.
Cookies are small files stored on your device by your browser. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, although some website features may not work as intended.
If comments, logins, embedded content or third-party tools are used on the website, those services may also use cookies.
9. Embedded content and third-party services
Pages on this website may include embedded content such as videos, maps, social media posts, forms, images or links from other websites.
Embedded content from other websites behaves as if you visited that website directly. Those websites may collect data, use cookies, or track your interaction according to their own privacy policies.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.
10. Who has access to your information
Access to personal information is limited to authorised Association committee members, website administrators, service providers or appointed representatives who need the information to perform Association-related duties.
This may include people assisting with:
- Website management
- Alumni administration
- Event coordination
- Communication
- Membership records
- Fundraising or sponsorship administration
- Technical support
All personal information must be handled responsibly and only for legitimate Association purposes.
11. Sharing of personal information
We do not sell or rent personal information.
We may share personal information only where necessary, including:
- With authorised Association representatives
- With service providers who assist with website hosting, email, forms, communication or administration
- Where required by law
- Where needed to protect the rights, safety or legitimate interests of the Association, the school community, alumni or website users
- Where you have given permission
12. How long we keep your information
We keep personal information only for as long as it is reasonably required for the purpose for which it was collected.
Alumni membership records may be kept for long-term historical, administrative and community purposes, unless you ask us to remove or update your information and we are not legally or administratively required to keep it.
Contact form messages, event records, donation records and communication records may be retained for reasonable administrative, legal or reporting purposes.
13. Security of personal information
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.
These steps may include password protection, limited admin access, secure hosting, website updates, form security tools and responsible data handling by authorised persons.
No website or online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we will take reasonable care to protect the information entrusted to us.
14. Your rights
You have the right to:
- Ask what personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information
- Ask us to delete your personal information, where appropriate
- Object to certain processing of your personal information
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- Ask us to stop sending you alumni communication
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your personal information has been misused
15. Updating or removing your information
If your contact details, surname, location, year attended or other membership information changes, please contact us so that we can update our records.
You may also ask to be removed from the alumni communication list. Please note that we may still need to keep limited records where required for administrative, legal, historical or governance reasons.
16. Children’s information
The FG-CSSS Alumni Association is primarily intended for alumni, former educators, supporters and community members.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent. Where information relating to learners or minors is collected for school support, event, mentorship or community initiatives, it will be handled with additional care and only for the relevant purpose.
17. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our website, Association activities, legal requirements or privacy practices.
The latest version will always be published on this page.
18. Contact us
For privacy-related questions, information updates, removal requests or POPIA enquiries, please contact the FG-CSSS Alumni Association.
Email: web@fgcss.co.za
Phone / WhatsApp: 081 403 4647
Website: fgcss.co.za
You may also contact the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your personal information has not been handled lawfully.