Terms of Service

Welcome to Sociaal. Please read these Terms of Service carefully before using our platform. By creating an account or using any part of our service you agree to be bound by these terms. If you do not agree, do not use Sociaal.

1. Definitions

In these Terms the following words have the meanings set out below:

• "Sociaal" / "we" / "us" / "our" means Sociaal, a company registered in the Republic of South Africa, operating the platform at sociaal.co.za and the companion short-link service at sca.al.
• "Platform" means the Sociaal website, web application, APIs, and all related services including sca.al.
• "Creator" means a registered user who uses the Platform to receive tips, sell subscriptions or digital products, create link-in-bio pages, or participate in brand campaigns.
• "Brand" means a registered business or individual who uses the Platform to post campaign briefs, discover creators, and manage influencer marketing campaigns.
• "Fan" means a registered user who tips creators, subscribes to creator tiers, or purchases digital products through the Platform.
• "User" / "you" / "your" means any person who registers for or uses the Platform, including Creators, Brands, and Fans.
• "Content" means any text, image, video, audio, link, or other material uploaded, posted, or distributed through the Platform.
• "Campaign" means a brand marketing brief posted on the Marketplace, including all associated deliverables, budgets, and timelines.
• "Escrow" means the holding of campaign budget funds by Sociaal pending deliverable approval.
• "Paystack" means Paystack Payments (Pty) Ltd, our third-party payment processor.
• "SARS" means the South African Revenue Service.
• "CPA" means the Consumer Protection Act, No. 68 of 2008.
• "ECTA" means the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, No. 25 of 2002.
• "POPIA" means the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013.

2. Who can use Sociaal

2.1 Age. You must be at least 18 years old to use the Platform. If you are at least 16 years old but under 18, you may register only with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, who accepts these Terms on your behalf and remains jointly and severally liable for your use of the Platform.

2.2 Legal capacity. By registering you confirm that you have full legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under South African law, or that your parent/guardian has provided the consent described in clause 2.1.

2.3 Businesses. If you register on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you confirm that you are authorised to bind that entity to these Terms. References to "you" in these Terms include that entity.

2.4 Geographic scope. The Platform is operated from South Africa. We do not represent that the Platform is appropriate or available for use in any jurisdiction outside the Republic of South Africa. Users who access the Platform from outside South Africa do so at their own risk and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

3. Account registration

3.1 Accurate information. You must provide accurate, current, and complete information when you register and keep that information up to date. Providing false information is grounds for immediate account termination.

3.2 One account per person. Each natural person may hold one personal account. Brands may hold one account per legal entity. Creating duplicate accounts to circumvent restrictions is prohibited.

3.3 Account security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at hello@sociaal.co.za if you suspect unauthorised access.

3.4 Email verification. Account activation requires email verification.

3.5 Identity verification (KYC). Before you can receive payouts, Sociaal may require you to complete identity verification ("Know Your Customer"). This may include providing: (a) a copy of your South African identity document (ID card or passport); (b) a recent photograph (selfie) for identity confirmation; (c) proof of residential address (utility bill, bank statement, or municipal account dated within the last 3 months); and (d) a bank confirmation letter confirming your account details. Sociaal requires this information to comply with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), No. 38 of 2001, and to prevent fraud. Payouts will be withheld until verification is complete. Your verification documents are processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

4. Creator terms

4.1 Creator account. A Creator account gives you access to: a public profile page and link-in-bio page (hosted at sca.al); subscription tiers for your audience; tip functionality; digital product sales; participation in the brand campaign Marketplace; and earnings analytics.

4.2 Subscription tiers. You may create one or more paid subscription tiers. You set the price (subject to any minimum thresholds we specify from time to time). Subscribers are charged on a recurring basis through Paystack. You may modify or discontinue a tier, but existing subscribers must be given at least 30 days' notice of material changes, including price increases.

4.3 Tips. Fans may send one-time tips directly to you. Tip amounts are set by the Fan within any limits we specify. Tips are non-refundable once settled to your account, except where required by law.

4.4 Digital products. You may list digital products (such as preset packs, e-books, templates, or downloadable files) for sale through the Platform. You are solely responsible for the accuracy of product descriptions, delivery of digital files, and any consumer warranties that apply under the CPA. Sociaal provides the checkout and delivery infrastructure only.

4.5 Brand campaigns. You may apply for or accept invitations to brand campaigns listed on the Marketplace. Campaign participation is governed by clause 5 (Brand terms) and clause 8 (Campaign escrow) as they apply to Creators, and by the specific campaign brief you accept.

4.6 Payout. Earnings (after the platform fee and Paystack processing fees described in clause 7) are held in your Sociaal balance and paid out according to the payout schedule set out in clause 7. You must provide valid South African bank account details to receive payouts. Sociaal reserves the right to withhold payouts pending fraud review or where a chargeback or dispute is pending.

4.7 Content standards. All Content you upload or distribute through the Platform must comply with clause 10 (Prohibited conduct). You are solely responsible for your Content.

5. Brand terms

5.1 Brand account approval. Brand accounts are subject to a review and approval process. We reserve the right to decline or revoke a Brand account at our sole discretion.

5.2 Campaign briefs. When you post a campaign brief on the Marketplace you must accurately describe: the deliverables required; the campaign budget; the timeline; any content guidelines; and any restrictions on the Creator's ability to work with competing brands during the campaign period.

5.3 Campaign deposit. Before a campaign is activated and matched with Creators, you must deposit the full campaign budget into Escrow (see clause 8). Payment may be made by debit/credit card through Paystack or by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) — EFT payments are confirmed only upon receipt of cleared funds in our bank account.

5.4 Deliverable approval. You must review submitted Creator deliverables and either approve them or request a revision within the timeframe specified in the campaign brief (and in any event within 5 business days of submission unless otherwise agreed). Failure to respond within this period may be treated as deemed approval at our discretion.

5.5 Content rights. When you approve a Creator's deliverable you receive a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use that Content for the purposes specified in the campaign brief for the licence period specified. The Creator retains ownership of the Content. Any additional or extended use rights must be negotiated directly with the Creator.

5.6 SARS compliance. Brands may download tax-compliant invoices from the Platform for campaign payments. Sociaal issues a tax invoice on behalf of the Creator where applicable. You remain responsible for your own tax obligations.

5.7 Conduct toward Creators. You must treat Creators with respect and in good faith. Harassment, discriminatory conduct, or attempts to circumvent the Platform to engage Creators outside Sociaal for campaign work originated on the Platform ("off-platform diversion") are prohibited and are grounds for account termination.

6. Fan and subscriber terms

6.1 Subscriptions. When you subscribe to a Creator's tier, you authorise Paystack to charge your payment method at the price and frequency displayed at checkout on a recurring basis until you cancel. Subscription charges are in South African Rands (ZAR).

6.2 Cancellation. You may cancel a subscription at any time from your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period — you will not be charged for the next period but you retain access to subscribed Content until the current period ends. We do not provide pro-rata refunds for partial subscription periods, except where required by the CPA cooling-off right described in clause 14.

6.3 Digital product purchases. Purchases of digital products are final. Because digital products are delivered immediately upon purchase by electronic download, you acknowledge that the right of withdrawal (cooling-off) described in clause 14.1 does not apply once delivery of the digital product has commenced, as permitted under the CPA in respect of digital content. If a product is materially different from its description, contact us at hello@sociaal.co.za within 5 business days.

6.4 Tips. Tips are voluntary, non-refundable payments. Sending a tip does not create any obligation on the Creator to provide goods or services in return.

6.5 Failed payments. If a recurring subscription charge fails, we will attempt to retry the payment. If payment cannot be collected after reasonable retries your subscription will be suspended and you will lose access to gated Content until a valid payment method is provided.

7. Payments and fees

7.1 Platform fee. Sociaal charges a 10% platform fee on Creator earnings from tips, subscriptions, digital product sales, and campaign payouts. This fee is deducted before funds are credited to your Sociaal balance. The platform fee does not include Paystack payment processing fees, which are charged separately (see clause 7.2).

7.2 Paystack fees. Paystack charges payment-processing fees on each transaction in accordance with their published tariff. These fees are deducted from gross transaction value before any amount reaches your Sociaal balance. Paystack's current fee schedule is available at paystack.com/za/pricing. Sociaal has no control over Paystack fees and cannot guarantee they will not change.

7.3 All-in pricing. The Creator's published prices are what Fans and subscribers pay. Sociaal and Paystack fees are deducted from that amount before the Creator receives their net earnings. Creators should set their prices with this in mind.

7.4 Currency. All transactions on the Platform are conducted in South African Rands (ZAR). Sociaal does not accept or disburse foreign currencies.

7.5 Payout schedule. Creator payouts are processed automatically, either once or twice per calendar month, on dates communicated to you via the Platform (currently the 15th and last business day of each month). Payouts are subject to a minimum payout threshold (currently R200.00). Earnings below the threshold are carried forward to the next payout cycle. Payouts are made to the South African bank account registered in your Creator settings. Typical bank transfer processing times apply once a payout is initiated — usually 1–3 business days.

7.6 On-demand payouts. Creators may request an on-demand (ad-hoc) payout outside of the regular schedule. On-demand payouts incur an additional processing fee (currently R25.00 per request) which is deducted from the payout amount. On-demand payouts are subject to the same minimum threshold and verification requirements as scheduled payouts. Sociaal reserves the right to limit the number of on-demand payouts per calendar month.

7.7 Payout holds. We may place a temporary hold on payouts where: a chargeback or payment dispute has been filed; we suspect fraudulent activity on the account; your account is under review for a Policy violation; your account has not completed identity verification (see clause 3.5); or we are required to do so by law or at the direction of a court or regulator. We will notify you of any hold and its reason unless we are legally prohibited from doing so.

7.8 Taxes on payouts. Sociaal pays out gross Creator earnings less the platform fee and Paystack fees. Sociaal does not deduct or withhold income tax (PAYE) from Creator payouts. See clause 11 for Creator tax obligations.

8. Campaign escrow

8.1 How escrow works. When a Brand deposits a campaign budget on the Platform, those funds are held by Sociaal in a ring-fenced escrow balance. The funds are not transferred to Creators or to Sociaal's operating account until deliverables are approved.

8.2 Release of funds. Escrow funds are released to the applicable Creator(s) upon the Brand's written approval of the Creator's submitted deliverable(s), or upon deemed approval as described in clause 5.4.

8.3 Partial release. Where a campaign involves multiple Creators or multiple deliverables, funds may be released in tranches corresponding to individual approvals.

8.4 Campaign cancellation by Brand.

• If a Brand cancels a campaign before any Creator has been confirmed, the full deposited amount is refunded to the Brand's original payment method (less any applicable Paystack processing fees that are non-recoverable).
• If a Brand cancels after a Creator has been confirmed but before the Creator has submitted deliverables, the Brand receives a partial refund of any unallocated budget. The Creator receives a cancellation fee equal to 25% of their agreed campaign fee, sourced from Escrow, as compensation for preparation time.
• If a Brand cancels after a Creator has submitted deliverables, no refund is issued for work submitted. The Creator is entitled to payment for submitted deliverables as assessed by Sociaal.

8.5 Campaign disputes.

• If a Brand rejects a deliverable, they must provide specific written reasons. The Creator may revise and resubmit in accordance with the campaign brief.
• If a dispute cannot be resolved between Brand and Creator within 5 business days of a rejection notice, either party may escalate the dispute to Sociaal by emailing hello@sociaal.co.za with the subject line "Campaign Dispute — [Campaign ID]".
• Sociaal will review all submitted evidence (brief, deliverables, communications) and issue a binding determination within 10 business days. Sociaal's determination on escrow release is final and not subject to further appeal within the Platform.
• The foregoing does not affect either party's right to seek relief through South African courts.

8.6 Unclaimed escrow. If a campaign remains unmatched or incomplete and neither party contacts Sociaal within 90 days of the campaign's scheduled end date, Sociaal reserves the right to process a refund of remaining Escrow funds to the Brand.

9. Content and intellectual property

9.1 Your ownership. You retain ownership of all Content you upload or create on the Platform. These Terms do not transfer any intellectual property rights from you to Sociaal.

9.2 Licence to Sociaal. By uploading Content to the Platform, you grant Sociaal a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable licence to host, display, reproduce, distribute, and adapt that Content solely for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform (for example, using a Creator's public profile image in Platform marketing materials, with reasonable notice and credit). You may withdraw this marketing licence at any time by contacting us; withdrawal does not affect our right to continue hosting your Content while your account remains active.

9.3 Representations about your Content. You represent and warrant that: (a) you own or have the necessary rights to all Content you upload; (b) your Content does not infringe any third party's intellectual property, personality, or privacy rights; and (c) your Content complies with all applicable South African laws.

9.4 Sociaal IP. The Sociaal name, logo, brand identity, website design, software, databases, and all other technology and material provided by Sociaal are owned by or licensed to Sociaal and are protected by South African intellectual property law. You may not copy, modify, reverse-engineer, or distribute any Sociaal IP without our prior written consent.

9.5 Takedown. We will respond to valid intellectual property infringement notices in accordance with South African law. To submit a notice, email hello@sociaal.co.za with full details of the alleged infringement.

10. Prohibited conduct

You may not use the Platform to:

10.1 Illegal or harmful content. Upload, post, or distribute Content that: is unlawful under South African law; constitutes hate speech under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act; depicts child sexual abuse or exploitation; incites violence; constitutes defamation; or infringes any third party's rights.

10.2 Fraud and deception. Impersonate any person or entity; misrepresent your identity, affiliation, or credentials; create fake engagement (buying followers, likes, or views to inflate Phyllo/analytics scores); or make false or misleading statements about your Content or products.

10.3 Platform abuse. Circumvent, disable, or interfere with security features; scrape or data-mine the Platform without our written consent; introduce malware or harmful code; engage in denial-of-service attacks; or attempt to gain unauthorised access to other user accounts or our systems.

10.4 Off-platform diversion. Solicit other Users to transact outside the Platform for work that originated through Sociaal, in order to avoid Platform fees. This applies to campaign work for 12 months from initial contact through the Platform.

10.5 Spam and unsolicited communications. Send unsolicited commercial messages (spam) to other Users; harvest email addresses; or use the Platform's messaging features for bulk commercial solicitation unrelated to legitimate creator-fan engagement.

10.6 Money laundering and financial crime. Use the Platform to launder money, fund terrorist activities, evade sanctions, or facilitate any financial crime under South African law, including the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA).

10.7 Adult content. Upload explicit or pornographic Content without our separate written authorisation. We do not currently support adult content on the Platform.

11. Tax and independent contractor status

11.1 Creators are independent contractors. Creators who use the Platform are independent service providers. The relationship between a Creator and Sociaal is not one of employment, agency, partnership, or joint venture. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment relationship between Sociaal and any Creator.

11.2 Indicators of independent contractor relationship. Specifically:

• Sociaal does not direct or control how, when, or where a Creator creates their Content or performs their services.
• Creators set their own schedules and work from locations of their choosing.
• Creators provide their own equipment, software, and tools.
• Creators may offer their services to multiple platforms, brands, and clients simultaneously.
• Creators are free to decline any campaign, subscription tier, or engagement opportunity.

11.3 SARS deemed employee rule (Interpretation Note 17). Creators are advised that the South African Revenue Service (SARS), under the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 (Fourth Schedule), may deem a person who provides personal services to be an employee for PAYE withholding purposes if:

• 80% or more of that person's income during the year of assessment is derived from a single client or employer; and
• that person does not employ three or more full-time employees (other than connected persons) throughout the year.

If these conditions are met in respect of income received through Sociaal, SARS may regard Sociaal as being required to withhold PAYE on your earnings. To reduce this risk, Creators are strongly encouraged to diversify their income sources and not to rely on Sociaal as their sole or primary source of income. Sociaal does not withhold PAYE by default and makes no undertaking to do so.

11.4 Creator tax obligations. As an independent contractor, you are solely responsible for:

• Registering as a provisional taxpayer with SARS if your taxable income from all sources exceeds the applicable provisional tax threshold;
• Filing provisional tax returns and paying provisional taxes on time;
• Filing your annual income tax return (ITR12) declaring all income earned through the Platform;
• Registering for VAT if your taxable supplies exceed the VAT registration threshold (currently R1 million per year) and charging, collecting, and remitting VAT accordingly;
• Maintaining adequate records of your income and expenses as required by SARS.

11.5 SARS-ready earnings exports. Sociaal provides Creators with a downloadable CSV export of their earnings history to assist with tax record-keeping. This export is provided as a convenience only and does not constitute tax advice. Sociaal does not guarantee the export will satisfy all SARS record-keeping requirements. You should consult a registered tax practitioner if you are uncertain about your tax obligations.

11.6 No tax advice. Nothing in these Terms or elsewhere on the Platform constitutes tax, legal, or financial advice. Sociaal is not a registered tax practitioner. All tax and compliance decisions are your sole responsibility.

11.7 Brand withholding. Brands who engage Creators through the Platform are responsible for determining whether they have any PAYE or other withholding obligations in respect of Creator payments. Sociaal is not responsible for any Brand tax withholding obligations.

12. Privacy and data

12.1 The collection and use of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms by reference. Our Privacy Policy sets out how we collect, store, use, and protect your personal information in compliance with POPIA.

12.2 By using the Platform you consent to the processing of your personal information as described in the Privacy Policy.

12.3 Short links created through sca.al collect click analytics (timestamp, anonymised IP hash, user agent hash, and referrer) for Creator analytics purposes. No personally identifiable information is stored in click records.

13. Electronic communications (ECTA)

13.1 Electronic contracts. In accordance with the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, No. 25 of 2002 (ECTA), you acknowledge that these Terms constitute a valid and binding electronic agreement. By ticking the "I agree" checkbox or by otherwise accepting these Terms, you agree that your acceptance constitutes an electronic signature that is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

13.2 Merchant disclosures. Sociaal is required under ECTA to disclose the following:

• Full name and legal status: Sociaal, a company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa.
• Physical address: Available on request at hello@sociaal.co.za.
• Website: sociaal.co.za
• Email address: hello@sociaal.co.za
• Description of main business: Technology platform connecting content creators, brands, and fans for the purpose of creator monetisation.
• Prices: All prices displayed on the Platform are in South African Rands (ZAR). Platform fees are set out in clause 7.
• Security procedures: We use industry-standard HTTPS encryption. Payments are processed by Paystack, a PCI-DSS compliant payment processor. Sociaal does not store full card numbers.
• Return and refund policy: Set out in clause 14.

13.3 Data retention. Sociaal retains electronic transaction records for a minimum of 5 years after the date of the transaction, as required by ECTA and SARS record-keeping rules.

13.4 Cookies. The Platform uses cookies and similar technologies. You may manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or through the consent banner on the Platform. Essential cookies required for the Platform to function cannot be disabled.

14. Cooling-off and refunds (Consumer Protection Act)

14.1 CPA cooling-off right. Where the Consumer Protection Act, No. 68 of 2008 applies to a transaction on the Platform (typically where a consumer in South Africa purchases a subscription or digital product through a direct marketing channel), you have the right to cancel that transaction without reason or penalty within 5 business days of the date on which you concluded the agreement or received the goods or access, whichever is later, subject to the exclusions below.

14.2 Exclusion — digital products delivered immediately. The cooling-off right in clause 14.1 does not apply where:

• The digital product has been downloaded or its delivery commenced with your express prior consent and your acknowledgment that you would lose your right of withdrawal once delivery commenced; or
• The digital product is a personalised item created specifically to your order.

At checkout for digital products, you will be asked to confirm your consent to immediate delivery and acknowledgment of the loss of cooling-off rights.

14.3 How to exercise cooling-off. To cancel a subscription within the cooling-off period, email hello@sociaal.co.za with the subject line "CPA Cooling-Off — [your account email]" within 5 business days of purchase. We will process a full refund of the amount paid to your original payment method within 15 business days.

14.4 Refund for defective digital products. If a digital product you purchased is materially different from its description or is defective (for example, the file is corrupted and cannot be opened), you may request a refund by emailing us within 5 business days of purchase. We will investigate and, if the defect is confirmed, issue a full refund within 15 business days.

14.5 Subscription refunds outside cooling-off. Subscription payments are non-refundable outside the cooling-off period described in clause 14.1, except where the Creator's tier is removed or materially altered without adequate notice. In such a case, we will issue a pro-rata refund for the unused subscription period.

14.6 Fair and plain terms (CPA compliance). We have drafted these Terms in plain language as required by the CPA. If any clause is unclear, contact us and we will explain it to you in plain language. If any clause is found to be unfair or unjust under the CPA, that clause will be unenforceable to the extent of the unfairness, and the remaining Terms will continue in full force.

15. Limitation of liability

15.1 Platform provided as-is. To the maximum extent permitted by South African law, the Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

15.2 Liability cap. Subject to clause 15.4, Sociaal's total liability to you in respect of any claim arising out of or in connection with the Platform or these Terms — whether in contract, delict, or otherwise — is limited to the greater of: (a) the total fees paid by you to Sociaal in the 3 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim; or (b) R1,000.00.

15.3 Excluded losses. Subject to clause 15.4, Sociaal is not liable for: loss of profit; loss of revenue; loss of data; loss of goodwill; loss of anticipated savings; any indirect or consequential loss; or any loss arising from your reliance on information provided by other Users or Creators on the Platform.

15.4 CPA and mandatory law. Nothing in this clause excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under the Consumer Protection Act or any other mandatory South African law, including liability for death or personal injury caused by our gross negligence or wilful misconduct, or liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.

15.5 Third-party services. Sociaal is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of third-party services connected to the Platform, including Paystack, social media platforms, or analytics providers.

16. Indemnification

16.1 You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sociaal, its directors, officers, employees, agents, and contractors from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

• Your use of the Platform in violation of these Terms;
• Your Content, including any claim that your Content infringes a third party's rights;
• Your breach of any representation or warranty in these Terms;
• Your failure to comply with applicable laws, including tax laws;
• Any campaign brief you post or any Creator deliverable you approve or use.

16.2 Sociaal reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume exclusive defence and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which case you agree to cooperate with Sociaal's defence of that claim.

17. Termination

17.1 Termination by you. You may close your account at any time from your account settings. Closing your account cancels any active subscriptions you hold as a Fan. If you are a Creator, any pending payout balance will be paid to you after any applicable hold period (see clause 7.6), subject to there being no pending disputes or chargebacks.

17.2 Termination by Sociaal. We may suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if:

• You breach these Terms in a material way;
• We believe you are involved in fraud or illegal activity;
• We receive a valid legal order requiring us to do so;
• Your account presents an unacceptable financial or legal risk to the Platform.

For less serious breaches we will, where practicable, notify you of the breach and give you a reasonable opportunity to remedy it before suspending your account.

17.3 Effect of termination. On termination of your account: your right to use the Platform ceases immediately; your public profile page and link-in-bio page will be taken offline; all Content you have uploaded will be scheduled for deletion (see our Privacy Policy for retention periods); and active subscriptions held by your Fans will be cancelled. Termination does not affect any rights or obligations that have already accrued before the termination date.

17.4 Creator earnings on termination. If Sociaal terminates your account for reasons other than a material breach by you, we will pay out any positive balance in your Creator account after the standard hold period and deduction of any outstanding amounts you owe. If termination is due to your breach or suspected fraud, we reserve the right to withhold your balance pending investigation and any resulting legal proceedings.

18. Dispute resolution

18.1 Good-faith resolution. Before commencing any formal proceedings, both parties agree to attempt to resolve any dispute in good faith through direct negotiation. Contact us at hello@sociaal.co.za with a written description of your dispute.

18.2 Mediation. If a dispute is not resolved within 20 business days of written notification under clause 18.1, either party may refer the dispute to mediation administered by a mutually agreed accredited mediator in South Africa. The costs of mediation will be shared equally unless the mediator orders otherwise. Participation in mediation is a prerequisite to commencing litigation, except where urgent relief is required.

18.3 Litigation. If mediation fails or is inapplicable, disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Republic of South Africa. Both parties consent to the jurisdiction of the Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa (or the Magistrates' Court if the claim falls within that court's jurisdiction) as the primary forum, without prejudice to either party's right to approach another court with jurisdiction.

18.4 Governing law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. International private law rules that would apply the law of another jurisdiction are excluded.

18.5 Campaign disputes. Disputes specifically relating to campaign deliverables and escrow are governed first by the process in clause 8.5 before the general dispute resolution process in this clause applies.

19. Amendments

19.1 We may update or amend these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to the Platform, applicable law, or our business. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Sending an email to the address associated with your account; and/or
• Displaying a prominent notice on the Platform.

19.2 The updated Terms will specify a new "Last updated" date. Changes take effect 14 days after notification, or immediately if required by law or to address a security or fraud risk.

19.3 If you do not agree to the amended Terms, you must stop using the Platform and close your account before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of amended Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

20. General

20.1 Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional terms specific to particular features of the Platform (such as campaign-specific terms), constitute the entire agreement between you and Sociaal regarding the Platform and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and representations.

20.2 Severability. If any clause or part of a clause in these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable under applicable law, that clause will be severed or modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, and the remaining Terms will continue in full force and effect.

20.3 No waiver. A failure or delay by Sociaal to exercise any right or remedy under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or remedy.

20.4 Assignment. You may not assign or transfer any of your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Sociaal may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of substantially all of our assets, provided your rights are not materially prejudiced.

20.5 Force majeure. Sociaal is not liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including load-shedding, natural disasters, acts of government, telecommunications failures, or payment processor outages.

20.6 Language. These Terms are written in English. In the event of any conflict between an English version and a translated version, the English version prevails.

20.7 Relationship. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship between you and Sociaal.

21. Contact us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

• Email: hello@sociaal.co.za
• Website: sociaal.co.za

We aim to respond to all enquiries within 2 business days.