LEGAL & COMPLIANCE

Legal & Compliance

Regulatory compliance, terms of use, and legal disclaimers

POPIA Compliance

Auto Forensics SA (Pty) Ltd complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013. We are committed to lawful processing of personal information in accordance with POPIA's eight conditions.

Information We Collect

  • • Contact details (name, email, phone) from authorized institutional representatives
  • • VIN numbers and vehicle identification data for audit purposes
  • • Deal reference numbers and transaction identifiers
  • • Forensic audit findings and technical data
  • • Evidence vault access logs

How We Use Information

  • • Service delivery (forensic audits, reports, evidence vaulting)
  • • Communication regarding inspections and findings
  • • Legal compliance and evidentiary requirements
  • • Expert witness testimony when required by court

Data Security

All personal information is:

  • • Encrypted at rest (AES-256)
  • • Transmitted over TLS 1.3+
  • • Access-controlled (role-based permissions)
  • • Audit-logged (immutable access records)
  • • Backed up with encryption

Your Rights

Under POPIA, you have the right to:

  • • Access your personal information
  • • Request correction of inaccurate data
  • • Object to processing (subject to legal obligations)
  • • Lodge complaints with the Information Regulator

Terms of Use

Service Scope

Auto Forensics SA provides independent forensic vehicle audits for institutional clients. Our services are limited to technical assessment and evidence collection. We do not provide:

  • • Legal advice or counsel
  • • Vehicle repairs or maintenance
  • • Market valuations or appraisals
  • • Insurance underwriting decisions

Limitation of Liability

Our forensic audits represent professional technical opinions based on evidence available at the time of inspection. While we maintain R50M professional indemnity insurance, our liability is limited to the scope defined in service agreements with institutional clients.

Intellectual Property

All forensic reports, methodologies, and Electronic Archaeology™ processes remain the intellectual property of Auto Forensics SA. Clients receive usage rights for the specific transaction only. Redistribution or reproduction without authorization is prohibited.

Disclaimer

NO LEGAL ADVICE

Auto Forensics SA does not provide legal advice. All findings are forensic technical assessments only. Legal interpretation must be conducted by qualified legal counsel.

NO REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS

We identify defects and provide technical evidence. We do not recommend specific repairs, workshops, or remediation providers. Repair decisions rest with vehicle owners and principals.

NO VALUATION SERVICES

Our audits assess technical condition only. We do not provide market valuations, pricing guidance, or financial advice regarding vehicle transactions.

EVIDENCE LIMITATIONS

Forensic evidence is based on data available at the time of inspection. Electronic systems may have been altered, data may be incomplete, or evidence may be unavailable due to technical constraints. Findings represent professional opinion, not absolute certainty.

Evidence Use Policy

All evidence collected during forensic audits is the property of the commissioning institutional client. Auto Forensics SA retains a copy for legal and evidentiary purposes.

Permitted Use

  • • Internal risk assessment and decision-making
  • • Litigation and dispute resolution
  • • Regulatory compliance and reporting
  • • Expert witness proceedings

Prohibited Use

  • • Public disclosure without consent
  • • Marketing or promotional purposes
  • • Unauthorized redistribution
  • • Competitive intelligence

Data Retention Policy

In accordance with South African legal requirements and forensic best practices, we retain evidence and personal information for:

Forensic Evidence (Evidence Vault)7 Years Minimum
Audit Reports7 Years Minimum
Client Contact InformationDuration + 2 Years
Litigation-Related DataIndefinite

Retention periods may be extended by court order, regulatory requirement, or ongoing legal proceedings.