Dear Subscriber/Signatory,

We are writing to inform you of an important development regarding Unashamedly Ethical (UE). Since 2010, Unashamedly Ethical (“UE”) has been operating as the Unashamedly Ethical Trust, IT3534/2002.

As part of our commitment to ethical excellence and ongoing efforts to strengthen our mission and enhance operational efficiency, the UE Board of Trustees decided in 2024 to transition from operating as a Trust to a Non-Profit Company (NPC) under South African law.

As of January 2025, the UE Trust will be transferred, as a going concern, to the newly created Unashamedly Ethical NPC (“UE NPC”) and the UE Trust will close operations. This change reflects a shift in our legal structure but does not alter our vision, mission, or the commitment we have made to you and others in promoting ethics and values globally.

A Year of Preparation

Throughout 2024, we have worked diligently to ensure full compliance with the legal and operational requirements of an NPC. Key milestones include:

• NPC Registration: The NPC was successfully registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) under registration number 2024/165131/08.
• SARS and Department of Labour Registration: We completed registrations with both SARS and the Department of Labour.
• NPO Registration: We have been officially registered as a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) with registration number 310-198.
• PBO and PBA Applications: We are in the process of applying for Public Benefit Organization (PBO) and Public Benefit Activity (PBA) status. We anticipate these will be finalized by the end of quarter 1 of 2025.
• Electing a New Board of Directors: We have established a leadership team to guide the organization with sound governance and ethical oversight.

With these steps complete, we are now ready to commence the de-registration process for the Trust in January 2025. From this point onward, UE will operate exclusively as a Non-Profit Company.

What Does This Mean for You?

This notice serves to inform you that, as part of the transfer, the UE Trust will be transferring your personal information to UE NPC. This is necessary to ensure continuity in our operations and relationships with our signatories and subscribers.

This means that, as of 1 January 2025, for purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act No 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”), UE NPC will be the responsible party in relation to the processing of your personal information for the purposes of providing you with our services. POPIA is the South African data protection legislation which governs how we, as South African company, process your personal information.

 The transfer of your personal information is taking place because of the Transfer from UE Trust to UE NPC, which makes the UE Trust’s transferring of your personal information necessary to carry out its obligations in terms of the contractual arrangement between the UE Trust and UE NPC as well as for us to continue providing you with our Content. It is also in your interests for us to transfer your personal information for you to continue receiving our Content.

 Will this transfer of personal information affect your rights in terms of POPIA?

 Not at all! You will maintain the rights afforded to you in terms of POPIA, including:

• the right to access your personal information;
• the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information;
• the right to object to the processing of your personal information; and
• the right to request deletion of your information, in certain circumstances

What personal information will being transferred?

As part of this transition, all personal information currently held by the UE Trust will be transferred to the NPC. Any information about you that identifies you or could be used to identify you as an individual. This includes, for example, your name, contact details (like phone numbers and email addresses), physical address, financial information, and any other information linked to you personally, which you have already supplied to us.

 Your Data is Protected:

We assure you that your personal information will continue to be handled securely and in full compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). There will be no changes in how your data is used.

This transition is purely for legal and operational purposes.

We remain committed to our ethical mission and the values we have always upheld. How UE NPC processes your personal information is set out in our POPIA Policy.
As set out in the Policy, UE NPC will ensure that there is always a lawful basis and purpose that applies to the processing of your personal information, and that your information is kept confidential and secure. The more detailed terms of processing and how UE NPC complies with the conditions for lawful processing set out in POPIA are indicted in the POPIA Policy.

 Effective Date of Transition

The Trust will cease operations in 2025, and the NPC will formally assume all functions, including the management of your personal data, from January 2025.

 Remember, it’s still us! UE NPC is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy rights of all its data subjects by processing your personal information minimally, lawfully, fairly and in a manner that complies with the law.

We are grateful for your continued support and trust in Unashamedly Ethical. Your involvement helps us build a world where ethics and values guide leadership and decision-making.

 If you have any questions, concerns, or objections regarding this transition, please contact us at pippa@unashamedlyethical.com

 Warm regards,

Ilene Power
General Counsel
Unashamedly Ethical NPC