FarWayPrivacy policy
Last updated: 24 October 2026
In short: we collect what we need to book and run your trip, keep riders and drivers safe, and pay drivers and agents. We do not sell your details. You can delete your account at any time.
1. Who we are
FarWay is run by FarWay (Pty) Ltd, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa ("FarWay", "we", "us"). We are the responsible party for your personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA). This policy covers the FarWay app (Android, iPhone and web) and this website.
Our Information Officer can be reached at Info@FarWay.co.za.
2. What we collect
| Who | What we collect |
|---|---|
| Everyone | Name, email address, cellphone number, password (stored scrambled, never readable), profile photo, language and app settings. |
| Riders | Pickup and drop-off places, trip dates, trips you booked, tickets, ratings you give, emergency contacts you add, and people you book for (for "Send someone home": their name and cellphone number). |
| Drivers | ID, driver's licence, professional driving permit, car papers and car photos; your location while you are online; your earnings and payments; a face scan to confirm it is you at sign-in or the start of a shift, when this check is switched on. |
| Agents | ID, a bank confirmation letter, the bookings that came through your link, and your payouts. |
| Payments | Amounts, dates and payment status. Card payments are handled by Paystack. We never see or keep your full card number; we only keep the last four digits and the card type so you can recognise your card. |
| Your phone | Device type, app version and a notification token so we can send trip reminders. Error and security logs. |
3. Location
- Riders: we use your location, only when you allow it, to fill in your pickup and to show your trip on the map.
- Drivers: while you are online or on a trip, the app shares your location, also when the app is in the background or the screen is off. We use it to send you the closest riders, show riders where you are, keep trips safe and work out fair pay when a trip is handed over. Location sharing stops when you go offline.
4. Face scans
A face scan is special personal information under POPIA. We only use it to confirm that the person driving is the registered driver. We ask for your consent first, never use it for marketing, and delete it when your driver account is closed.
5. Why we use your information
- To create your account, book your trip, match you with a driver and send you trip updates and reminders.
- To take payments, give refunds, and pay drivers and agents.
- To check drivers and agents before they can work with us.
- To keep people safe: SOS alerts, ticket scans, ratings and looking into complaints.
- To stop fraud and misuse, and to keep our systems secure.
- To meet legal duties, such as tax and financial record keeping.
We use your information because we need it to give you the service you asked for, because the law requires it, or for our legitimate interest in running a safe service. Where we need your consent (such as location or face scans), we ask for it and you can withdraw it.
6. Who sees your information
- Your driver sees your name, photo, pickup, drop-off and seats. Riders see their driver's name, photo and car.
- Agents see the first name and trip of people who booked through their link, never phone numbers.
- Service providers who work for us: Supabase (our database and file storage), Vercel (hosting), Paystack (payments), our SMS provider (sign-in codes) and OpenStreetMap (maps and address search). They may only use your information to provide their service to us.
- Authorities when the law requires it, or in an emergency to protect someone's life or safety.
We do not sell your personal information or share it for other companies' advertising.
7. Information stored outside South Africa
Some of our service providers store information on servers outside South Africa. We only use providers that protect personal information to a standard similar to POPIA, as section 72 of POPIA requires.
8. How long we keep it
- Your account details are kept while you have an account.
- When you delete your account, we remove your name, email, cellphone number, photo, emergency contacts and saved cards straight away.
- Trip and payment records are kept for five years without your details, because tax and financial laws require it.
- Driver location history is kept for up to 90 days unless it is needed for a complaint or safety matter.
9. How we protect it
Information is sent over encrypted connections and access is limited to the people who need it. Staff sign in with two-step verification, and every admin action is logged. If a breach puts your information at risk, we will tell you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.
10. Your rights
You can ask us to show you the information we hold about you, correct it, or delete it. You can object to how we use it, and withdraw consent at any time. Most of this you can do yourself in the app under Account. For anything else, email Info@FarWay.co.za.
To delete your account, see Delete my account.
If you are unhappy with how we handled your information, you can complain to the Information Regulator: inforegulator.org.za.
11. Children
You must be 18 or older to open a FarWay account. A child can travel on a ticket booked by a parent or guardian, who is responsible for the booking.
12. Changes
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top and tell you in the app when the change is important.