Jun 24, 2020

SEESA’s Athlete Of The Week – Charl de Lange

SEESA has been a loyal supporter of the Ironman4theKidz foundation for years as it is a passion we share and a cause we feel strongly about.

Over the next few weeks, we would like to acknowledge SEESA’s athletes who participated in various Ironman events in support of the Ironman4theKidz initiative.

Charl de Lange started his career at SEESA in 2010 and is currently the Provincial Training Manager at SEESA’s Port Elizabeth branch. He competed in the Ironman 70.3 event in East London in support of the Ironman4theKidz initiative.

1.In what Ironman event/s did you compete?

I love competing in the 5150 events both in Port Elizabeth and Bela-Bela, they were my introduction to triathlon. These events are extremely well organised and a good springboard to the longer distance events. My last event was the 70.3 Ironman in East London, which I thoroughly enjoyed despite the weather not playing along. Looking forward to doing it again as well as the Durban 70.3 event.

2.Why Ironman?

They set the bar high in terms of organising events and value for the athlete. Catering for all levels is a plus as a new competitor can start with a FunTri and progress to the full distance. Competitors get full road closures, decent nutrition, quality race shirt and amazing support along the course. This can only be topped by the feeling one gets when running down the red carpet as you feel like a rockstar when finishing.

3.Why did you choose to support Team Orange?

I love what the Ironman4theKidz foundation stands for and am proud to be associated with both the charity and SEESA. I’m pleased that SEESA supports this cause and sets such an inspiring example. Marvellous to see so many taking part in order to make a tangible difference in vulnerable children’s lives.

4.Any stories to share competing in your “Lumo Orange” Ironman4theKidz vest?

I am sure it’s been said before, but the sense of comradery between Ironman4theKidz athletes is amazing and one is really encouraged when you see an athlete in an orange vest.

5.What training tip would you share?

Listen to your coach, be consistent in your training, run your own race and do not change anything on the day.

We would like to encourage our clients to get involved and support Ironman4theKidz and what they stand for.  It is an extremely humbling experience to be part of something that means so much to the most vulnerable in society, namely our kids and something we are proud of every day.  

#SEESA #Ironman4theKidz

POPIA compliance in 2026: the basics every business still gets wrong

Even years after POPIA came into full effect, the same compliance gaps continue to surface across different industries. Many businesses believe they are POPIA compliant until a complaint, audit, or data breach proves otherwise.

Here are some of the most basic POPIA mistakes we still see:

  1. Information Officers appointed “on paper only”.
    The Information Officer is registered on the Information Regulators e-Services portal, but there is no real understanding of the role, no internal authority, and no ongoing oversight of compliance activities.
  2. Outdated or generic privacy notices
    Outdated or generic privacy notices often misrepresent actual processing activities in the company.
  3. No POPIA training beyond management
    POPIA compliance is treated as a legal or HR issue, while frontline employees, who handle personal information daily, receive little or no training.
  4. Assuming IT equals POPIA compliance
    Strong IT systems alone are not enough. POPIA also requires policies, procedures, access controls, and human behaviour management.
  5. Weak access control and data minimisation
    Employees often have access to personal information they do not need, increasing the risk of internal breaches and unauthorised disclosure.
  6. No clear process for data subject requests
    Businesses struggle to respond within reasonable timeframes because there is no documented procedure for handling requests.
  7. Not reporting data breaches to the Information Regulator
    Many organisations do not fully understand what constitutes a data breach under POPIA or how to report it. As a result, breaches are often ignored or being overlooked entirely.
  8. Failure to review and update data processing agreements with Operators
    While operators are identified, many businesses fail to put proper data processing agreements in place or to review them regularly.
  9. Treating POPIA as a once-off exercise
    Compliance is viewed as a project with an end date, rather than an ongoing process requiring regular review, updates, and monitoring.

POPIA compliance is about awareness, accountability, and continuous improvement. Identifying and fixing these common gaps is often the first step towards meaningful compliance.

 

 

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