Legal
Cookie Policy
Effective date: 24 March 2026
1. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. The BlyNet platform also relies on related browser technologies — in particular HTML5 localStorage — to remember your sign-in, language, and preferences between visits. Throughout this policy, “cookies” means cookies and these similar technologies, since they serve the same purpose and are subject to the same consent rules under POPIA. BlyNet (Pty) Ltd (“BlyNet”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) operates the Platform at blynet.io.
Note on legacy keys: BlyNet was previously known as SakPas. A small number of storage keys still use the sakpas_ prefix so that long-standing users do not lose their saved language, consent, or wishlist when we renamed. The data they hold is the same as their blynet_ equivalents.
2. What We Store on Your Device
2.1 Strictly Necessary — Session and Preferences
These items are essential for the Platform to function and cannot be switched off without breaking sign-in or your saved preferences. They are stored in your browser’s localStorage rather than as HTTP cookies.
| Key | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| blynet_account_token | Keeps you signed in to your BlyNet account | Up to 6 hours of inactivity |
| blynet_account_user | Caches your name, email, and roles so the app loads instantly | Cleared on sign-out |
| blynet_session_ts | Tracks when your session was last active so we can expire it safely | Cleared on sign-out |
| blynet_guest_token, blynet_host_token, blynet_admin_token | Role-specific access tokens used after sign-in (only one applies to you) | Cleared on sign-out |
| blynet_guest_email, blynet_host_email, blynet_admin_email | Pre-fills the sign-in form with the email you last used | Cleared on sign-out |
| blynet_vt | Anonymous visitor token used to attribute pre-sign-in actions to your eventual account | Until you clear browser storage |
| sakpas_locale | Remembers whether you prefer English or Afrikaans | Until you clear browser storage |
| sakpas_cookie_consent | Records the cookie-banner choice you made | Until you clear browser storage |
| sakpas_wishlist_ids | Lets you save stays to your wishlist before signing in; merged into your account on sign-in | Until you clear browser storage |
2.2 Performance and Analytics Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve Platform performance. They help us understand which pages are popular and how visitors navigate the Platform. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and anonymised.
When you accept all cookies, we load Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use BlyNet, and Google Ads conversion tracking to measure the effectiveness of our advertising. These tools may set cookies in your browser and may process hashed personal identifiers (email, phone) for conversion attribution. We default to Consent Mode v2 with all advertising and analytics storage denied until you accept.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics — distinguishes unique users and tracks page views | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics — distinguishes users | 24 hours |
2.3 Functional Cookies
These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalisation, such as remembering your search preferences, recently viewed properties, and display settings. If you do not allow these cookies, some features may not function as expected.
2.4 Third-Party Cookies
Certain third-party services integrated into the Platform may set their own cookies. These include:
- Payment processors (PayFast, Ozow) — for secure payment processing and fraud prevention.
- Google Maps — for displaying property locations on maps.
- Sentry — for error tracking and performance monitoring.
These third parties have their own cookie and privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.
3. Your Cookie Choices
When you first visit the Platform, you will see a cookie consent banner asking for your consent to non-essential cookies. You can:
- Accept all cookies: enables all cookie categories including analytics and functional cookies.
- Accept only necessary cookies: only strictly necessary cookies will be set. Analytics and functional cookies will be disabled.
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the Platform, which will trigger the consent banner again.
4. Managing Cookies in Your Browser
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically configure your browser to:
- Block all cookies or only third-party cookies.
- Delete cookies when you close your browser.
- Be notified when a cookie is set.
- Delete existing cookies at any time.
Please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform and your user experience. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be disabled without affecting the core operation of the Platform.
5. Similar Technologies
In addition to cookies, we may use similar technologies such as local storage (localStorage, sessionStorage) to store user preferences and session data locally on your device. These technologies serve similar purposes to cookies and are subject to the same consent requirements.
6. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page indicates when it was last updated. If we make material changes to our use of cookies, we will notify you through the Platform.
7. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
For more information about how we handle your personal information, please see our Privacy Policy and POPIA Compliance Notice.