Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") are entered into between you ("User", "you", or "your") and TeachSA Connect (Pty) Ltd ("TeachSA", "we", "us", or "our"), a company registered in the Republic of South Africa, with its principal place of business in Randburg, Gauteng.

Effective Date: 13 April 2026

By creating an account, accessing, or using the TeachSA Connect platform at teachsaconnect.co.za (the "Platform"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, our POPIA Compliance Statement, our Cookie Policy, our Acceptable Use Policy, and our Disclaimer, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Your acceptance of these Terms by electronic means—including clicking "I Agree", registering an account, or continuing to use the Platform—constitutes a valid and binding agreement in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 ("ECTA"), as amended. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the Platform and delete your account.

These Terms are also subject to the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 ("CPA") to the extent that you qualify as a consumer under that Act, and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA") as it relates to the processing of your personal information.

2. Definitions

In these Terms, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following words and expressions bear the meanings assigned to them:

• "Platform" means the TeachSA Connect website at teachsaconnect.co.za, including all web portals (Admin, Poster, Seeker, and Marketing), mobile applications, APIs, and related services.
• "User" means any natural or juristic person who accesses or uses the Platform, including Seekers, Posters, and Administrators.
• "Seeker" means an educator, teacher, or teaching professional who registers on the Platform to search for employment opportunities in the education sector.
• "Poster" means a school, educational institution, or authorised representative thereof that registers on the Platform to advertise vacancies and recruit educators.
• "Administrator" or "Admin" means a TeachSA Connect staff member or authorised agent with elevated access to manage Platform operations, verification reviews, and user support.
• "Verification" means the multi stage process by which TeachSA validates the identity, qualifications, and credentials of a User, including automated preflight checks, third party identity verification, AI assisted document analysis, and manual administrative review.
• "Services" means the job matching, candidate search, verification, messaging, notification, boost, subscription, and other features offered through the Platform.
• "Content" means any text, images, documents, data, information, or other material uploaded, submitted, or transmitted by Users through the Platform, including CVs, qualifications, photographs, and identity documents.
• "Personal Information" or "PII" has the meaning assigned to it in POPIA and includes any information relating to an identifiable, living natural person or identifiable, existing juristic person.
• "Trust Score"means a numerical rating between 0 and 100 assigned to a Seeker's verification case, reflecting the assessed reliability of their submitted documents and identity verification.
• "SACE" means the South African Council for Educators, the professional body that registers and regulates educators in South Africa.
• "NQF" means the National Qualifications Framework, the framework for classification of qualifications in South Africa.
• "ZAR" means South African Rand, the official currency of the Republic of South Africa.

3. Eligibility

To use the Platform, you must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

1. You must be at least 18 years of age or the age of legal majority in the Republic of South Africa, whichever is greater.
2. You must have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under South African law and must not be under any legal disability that would prevent you from doing so.
3. You must be a resident of or based in the Republic of South Africa, or hold valid authorisation to work in South Africa if you are registering as a Seeker.
4. If you register as a Poster, you must be a duly authorised representative of the educational institution on whose behalf you are acting, with the legal authority to bind that institution to these Terms.
5. All information you provide during and after registration must be true, accurate, current, and complete. You must promptly update your information if it changes.
6. Each natural person may maintain only one Seeker account. Each educational institution may maintain only one Poster account. Duplicate accounts may be suspended or terminated without notice.

TeachSA reserves the right to refuse registration, suspend, or terminate any account where it reasonably believes that eligibility requirements have not been met or that information provided is false, misleading, or incomplete.

4. Account Registration

To access the Services, you must register for an account by providing a valid email address and creating a secure password. Registration involves the following obligations:

• Accurate Information: You must provide accurate and complete information during the registration process, including your full legal name, email address, and any other required fields. You are responsible for updating your information to ensure it remains current.
• Email Verification: You must verify your email address by following the verification link sent to you upon registration. Your account will have limited functionality until email verification is complete.
• Credential Security:You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You must not share your password with any third party, use another User's account, or permit any unauthorised person to access your account.
• Unauthorised Access: You must notify TeachSA immediately at info@teachsaconnect.co.za if you become aware of any unauthorised access to or use of your account. TeachSA shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to safeguard your login credentials.
• Account Actions: You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account, whether or not authorised by you. This includes all Content uploaded, messages sent, and transactions initiated.

TeachSA reserves the right to require additional identity verification steps before granting full Platform access, in its sole and reasonable discretion.

5. Seeker Specific Terms

If you register as a Seeker, the following additional terms apply to your use of the Platform:

• Profile Completion: You must complete your Seeker profile with accurate personal details, including your full name, date of birth, phone number, city / province, and professional information. Incomplete profiles may limit your visibility to Posters and your eligibility for job matches.
• CV and Document Upload: You may upload a curriculum vitae (CV), profile photograph, South African identity document or passport, SACE certificate, police clearance certificate, reference letters, and other qualification documents. All uploaded documents must be authentic, unaltered, and belong to you.
• Qualification Representation: You must accurately represent your qualifications, including NQF levels, teaching qualifications, and any specialisation subjects. Misrepresentation of qualifications constitutes a material breach of these Terms and may result in immediate account termination and reporting to the relevant professional bodies.
• Teaching Experience: All teaching experience information must be truthful and verifiable. You must accurately state your years of experience, the phases (Foundation, Intermediate, Senior, FET) in which you have taught, the subjects you are qualified to teach, and your employment history.
• Document Authenticity: All documents submitted for verification must be genuine, unmodified originals or certified copies. Submission of forged, falsified, tampered, or fraudulently obtained documents is strictly prohibited and may result in permanent suspension, referral to SACE, and reporting to the South African Police Service.
• SACE Registration: If you are a qualified educator in South Africa, you acknowledge that registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) may be a requirement for certain positions. You must provide a valid SACE number if applicable and must not misrepresent your SACE registration status.
• Job Category Tracks: The Platform categorises opportunities across various education sectors including Early Childhood Development (ECD), Primary, Secondary, Combined, TVET, and Private institutions. You are responsible for selecting the appropriate tracks that match your qualifications and experience.

Seeker accounts are free of charge. Optional paid boost features are available as described in Section 10 of these Terms.

6. Poster Specific Terms

If you register as a Poster, the following additional terms apply to your use of the Platform:

• Institution Data Accuracy: You must provide accurate information about your educational institution, including the institution name, type (ECD, Primary, Secondary, Combined, TVET, or Private), physical address, and contact details. You must promptly update this information if it changes.
• CIPC/EMIS Number Validity: You must provide a valid Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) registration number or Education Management Information System (EMIS) number. These identifiers will be used to verify the legitimacy of your institution. Providing a false or invalid registration number constitutes fraud and will result in immediate account termination.
• Representative Authority: The individual creating and managing the Poster account must be a duly authorised representative of the institution with the legal authority to act on behalf of the institution, post vacancies, access candidate information, and enter into binding agreements.
• Responsible Use of Candidate Data:You must handle all Seeker data received through the Platform in strict compliance with POPIA. Candidate information may be used only for the purpose of evaluating candidates for vacancies posted on the Platform. You must not share, sell, distribute, or otherwise disclose Seeker data to third parties without the Seeker's explicit consent.
• Hiring Obligations: While the Platform facilitates introductions between Seekers and Posters, all employment decisions, contracts, and negotiations are solely between the Poster and the Seeker. TeachSA is not a party to any employment agreement and bears no responsibility for hiring outcomes.
• Non Discrimination:You must comply with all applicable South African employment equity and anti discrimination legislation, including the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998. You must not discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language, or birth, except as permitted by applicable law and the institution's employment equity plan.

Poster accounts require an active subscription as described in Section 10 of these Terms.

7. Verification Process

TeachSA operates a multi stage verification pipeline designed to validate User identities, qualifications, and document authenticity. By submitting documents for verification, you agree to the following:

• Consent to Verification: You expressly consent to TeachSA processing your documents and personal information through its verification pipeline, as further described in our Verification Consent notice. This consent includes automated and manual processing of your identity documents, qualifications, and supporting materials.
• Identity Verification: Your South African identity document or passport may be submitted to CheckID, a third party identity verification service, to confirm your identity against official records. You consent to this external verification.
• Document Analysis: Your uploaded documents may be processed by an automated document analysis service to extract information and check it against the other materials you have submitted.
• Fraud Detection: The Platform employs automated fraud detection to analyse your documents for indicators of tampering or inconsistency. Anything unusual is escalated to an administrator for review.
• Manual Admin Review: Following automated processing, a TeachSA Administrator may manually review your verification case, examine your documents, and make a final determination. The Administrator may override automated recommendations, and all overrides are recorded with a full audit trail.
• Additional Information: TeachSA reserves the right to request additional documents or information at any stage of the verification process. Failure to provide requested materials within a reasonable timeframe may result in your verification being denied or your account being suspended.
• Verification Not Guaranteed: Submission of documents does not guarantee successful verification. TeachSA reserves the right to deny verification for any reason that it considers, in its reasonable discretion, to indicate that the submitted information is false, inaccurate, or insufficient.
• Consequences of Misrepresentation: Submission of false, forged, or fraudulently obtained documents constitutes a material breach of these Terms and may result in immediate and permanent account termination, forfeiture of any fees paid, reporting to SACE and other professional bodies, and referral to the South African Police Service for criminal investigation.

For full details on how your data is handled during verification, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

8. AI and Automated Processing

TeachSA employs artificial intelligence and automated processing systems to enhance the verification process and Platform services. By using the Platform, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• Automated document analysis: TeachSA uses an automated document analysis service to extract information, classify documents, and check consistency across submitted documents. This automated analysis assists administrators with verification decisions and is never the sole basis for an outcome.
• Document assessment: Automated systems produce a quality and consistency assessment for extracted data, indicating the assessed reliability of the information. These assessments inform but do not solely determine verification outcomes.
• Trust assessment: Each verification case receives an internal trust assessment combining the document and identity-check results. This assessment is used by administrators to prioritise review and is not directly visible to Posters or other users.
• Automated Preflight Checks: Before documents enter the full verification process, automated preflight checks validate file integrity, format, size (maximum 10MB), and basic document attributes. Documents failing preflight may be rejected before further processing.
• Human Oversight: In compliance with POPIA Section 71, TeachSA ensures that no decision with significant legal or other effects is based solely on automated processing of personal information. A qualified human Administrator reviews all verification outcomes and retains the authority to override any automated recommendation.
• Right to Contest Automated Decisions: You have the right, in terms of POPIA Section 71(2), to submit a request to TeachSA to reconsider any decision that has been made solely on the basis of automated processing. Such requests should be submitted to privacy@teachsaconnect.co.za and will be reviewed by a qualified human decision-maker within 14 business days.

All documents processed by AI systems are transmitted via encrypted channels and are subject to the data protection measures described in our Privacy Policy.

9. Platform Services

TeachSA Connect provides the following core Services, subject to your account type, subscription status, and verification status:

• Job Matching:The Platform's eligibility engine matches Seekers to relevant vacancies based on qualifications, subjects, teaching phases, geographic location (radius-based), SACE registration status, and verification status. Matching is provided as a convenience and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement.
• Candidate Search: Posters with active subscriptions may search for and view Seeker profiles that match their vacancy requirements, subject to Seeker privacy settings and verification status.
• Messaging: The Platform provides an in platform messaging system enabling communication between Seekers and Posters. All messages are subject to our Acceptable Use Policy. TeachSA reserves the right to monitor messages for policy violations.
• Notifications: TeachSA sends email notifications, in platform notifications, and push notifications regarding job matches, verification updates, messages, and other Platform activities. You may manage your notification preferences in your account settings.
• Trust Badges: Seekers who successfully complete verification may receive trust badges displayed on their profile, indicating their verified status to Posters.
• Boost Features: Seekers may optionally purchase boost features to increase the visibility of their profile in search results and job matches. Boost features are subject to the payment terms in Section 10.
• Eligibility Engine: The Platform employs a rules-based eligibility engine that evaluates whether a Seeker meets the minimum requirements for a posted vacancy. This engine considers qualifications, subjects, phases, location, SACE requirements, and verification status. Eligibility determinations are informational and do not guarantee suitability for a position.

TeachSA continuously develops and improves its Services. We reserve the right to modify, enhance, or discontinue any Service feature with reasonable notice to affected Users. Material changes to core Services will be communicated via email and in platform notification at least 14 days in advance.

10. Payment and Billing

The following payment terms govern all financial transactions on the Platform:

Poster Subscriptions:

• Poster accounts require an active subscription to access candidate search, messaging, and advanced recruitment features. The Standard subscription is approximately R350 per month (ZAR), with yearly options available at a discounted rate.
• New Poster accounts receive a 14-day free trial with full access to subscription features. At the end of the trial period, your subscription will automatically convert to a paid subscription unless you cancel before the trial expires.
• Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle. You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; no pro-rata refunds are provided for partial periods.
• If a payment fails, TeachSA will attempt to process the payment again. If payment cannot be collected after reasonable attempts, your subscription features will be suspended until payment is successfully processed.

Seeker Boosts:

• Seekers may purchase optional profile boost features to increase their visibility. Boost prices range from R50 to R350 (ZAR) depending on duration (1 to 30 days).
• Boosts are non refundable once activated. By purchasing a boost, you acknowledge that the fee is final and that no refunds will be issued for unused boost time.

Payment Processing:

• All payments are processed by Paystack, a third party payment processor. TeachSA does not store your full credit card or bank account details. Your use of Paystack is subject to Paystack's own terms and conditions and privacy policy.
• All prices are quoted and charged in South African Rand (ZAR) and are inclusive of VAT where applicable.
• Billing disputes must be raised within 30 days of the relevant charge by contacting info@teachsaconnect.co.za. TeachSA will investigate and respond within 14 business days.

TeachSA reserves the right to modify its pricing with 30 days' prior written notice. Price changes will not affect the current billing cycle of existing subscribers.

11. User Content

Ownership: You retain full ownership of all Content you upload, submit, or transmit through the Platform, including your CV, photographs, documents, profile information, and messages.

Licence Grant: By uploading Content to the Platform, you grant TeachSA a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable licence to use, reproduce, process, adapt, and display your Content solely for the purposes of operating, maintaining, and improving the Platform and providing you with the Services. This licence continues for so long as your Content remains on the Platform and terminates when you delete your Content or your account, subject to our data retention obligations described in Section 16 and our Privacy Policy.

Content Accuracy: You represent and warrant that all Content you submit is accurate, truthful, and does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or any other rights of any third party. You are solely responsible for the accuracy and legality of your Content.

Prohibited Content: You must not upload or share Content that is illegal, defamatory, obscene, threatening, harassing, discriminatory, fraudulent, or otherwise in violation of these Terms or our Acceptable Use Policy. TeachSA reserves the right to remove any Content that violates these Terms without prior notice.

Malware Scanning: All uploaded files are scanned for malware and viruses before being stored on the Platform. Files that are detected as containing malware, viruses, or other malicious code will be rejected and will not be processed. Maximum file size for uploads is 10MB.

12. Data Sharing Between Users

The Platform facilitates the sharing of certain information between Seekers and Posters to enable the recruitment process. By using the Platform, you consent to the following data sharing arrangements:

What Posters See About Seekers:

• Seekers' names, profile photographs, CV documents, listed qualifications and NQF levels, teaching subjects and phases, years of experience, general location (area/suburb level), verification status and trust badges, and SACE registration status.
• Posters may only view full Seeker profiles if they hold an active subscription and the Seeker meets the eligibility criteria for the Poster's listed vacancy.

What Seekers See About Posters:

• Institution name, institution type (ECD, Primary, Secondary, Combined, TVET, Private), general location, posted vacancy details including job descriptions, requirements, and application deadlines.

Data Shared After Contact: When a Seeker applies for a vacancy or a Poster initiates contact with a Seeker, additional information may be shared through the in platform messaging system as mutually provided by the parties.

Limitations on Use: Information obtained about another User through the Platform may only be used for purposes directly related to recruitment on the Platform. You must not use information obtained through the Platform for unsolicited marketing, spam, harassment, or any purpose unrelated to legitimate recruitment. Violations may result in account termination and legal action.

13. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to engage in any of the following prohibited activities while using the Platform:

1. Fraud and Misrepresentation: Providing false, inaccurate, or misleading information during registration, verification, or at any other time, including falsifying qualifications, experience, identity, or institutional affiliations.
2. Impersonation: Creating an account on behalf of another person without their authorisation, or impersonating any person or entity.
3. Document Fraud: Submitting forged, falsified, tampered with, or fraudulently obtained documents, including identity documents, qualifications, certifications, police clearances, or reference letters.
4. Scraping and Automated Access:Using bots, scrapers, crawlers, or any automated means to access, extract, or collect data from the Platform without TeachSA's express written permission.
5. Harassment and Abuse: Engaging in harassment, intimidation, bullying, or abusive behaviour towards any User, Administrator, or TeachSA staff member, whether through the messaging system or any other means.
6. Discrimination: Discriminating against Seekers on any prohibited ground under South African law, including race, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, or HIV status.
7. Circumventing Verification: Attempting to bypass, manipulate, or otherwise circumvent the verification process, including submitting documents on behalf of another person or using altered documents.
8. Credential Sharing:Sharing your login credentials with any third party or using another User's credentials to access the Platform.
9. Commercial Misuse: Using the Platform for any commercial purpose not expressly permitted, including reselling access, advertising non-education services, or soliciting Users for external commercial purposes.
10. Malware Distribution: Uploading files containing viruses, trojan horses, worms, malware, or any other malicious code designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to computer systems.
11. System Interference:Attempting to interfere with, disrupt, or place an undue burden on the Platform's infrastructure, including servers, networks, or databases.
12. Reverse Engineering: Attempting to reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise derive the source code of any Platform component, including the verification pipeline, eligibility engine, or matching algorithms.

Violation of any prohibited activity may result in immediate account suspension or termination, forfeiture of fees, and referral to law enforcement or professional regulatory bodies as appropriate.

14. Third Party Services

The Platform integrates with and relies upon the following third party services to deliver its functionality:

• CheckID: Third party identity verification service. Your identity document details are transmitted to CheckID to confirm your identity against official records.
• Paystack: Used for processing all subscription and boost payments. Your payment information is handled directly by Paystack in accordance with PCI DSS standards.
• Google Cloud Platform: Provides document storage, automated document analysis, and infrastructure services. Your uploaded documents are stored in encrypted form on this provider.
• Push notification provider: Used to deliver push notifications to your mobile device or browser. Your device token is shared with the provider for this purpose only.
• Malware scanner: Used to scan uploaded files for malware and viruses before they are stored on the Platform.

TeachSA is not responsible for the actions, omissions, availability, or security practices of any third party service provider. Your use of third party services may be subject to those providers' own terms of service and privacy policies. TeachSA encourages you to review the applicable third party terms.

In the event that a third party service becomes unavailable or discontinues its service, TeachSA will make reasonable efforts to find a suitable alternative. However, TeachSA shall not be liable for any disruption to Services caused by third party service failures.

15. Intellectual Property

TeachSA's Intellectual Property: The Platform, including its design, layout, user interface, source code, algorithms (including the verification pipeline, eligibility engine, and matching algorithms), branding, logos, trademarks, and all other proprietary materials, are the exclusive property of TeachSA Connect (Pty) Ltd or its licensors and are protected by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, the Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993, and applicable international intellectual property treaties.

User Content Ownership: As stated in Section 11, Users retain full ownership of the Content they upload to the Platform. The licence granted to TeachSA is limited to the purposes described in these Terms.

Restrictions:You must not, without TeachSA's prior written consent:

• Copy, reproduce, modify, or create derivative works based on any part of the Platform or its proprietary materials.
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any software or technology used in the Platform.
• Use TeachSA's trademarks, logos, or branding in any manner that suggests endorsement, affiliation, or sponsorship without authorisation.
• Frame, mirror, or otherwise incorporate any part of the Platform into another website or application.

If you believe that any Content on the Platform infringes your intellectual property rights, please contact us at info@teachsaconnect.co.za with details of the alleged infringement.

16. Termination and Suspension

Termination by TeachSA: TeachSA may, in its sole and reasonable discretion, suspend or terminate your account at any time for any of the following reasons:

• Breach of any provision of these Terms, including the prohibited activities listed in Section 13.
• Submission of false, fraudulent, or misleading information or documents.
• Failure to complete the verification process within a reasonable timeframe after being requested to do so.
• Engaging in conduct that TeachSA reasonably believes is harmful to other Users, the Platform, or TeachSA's reputation.
• Non payment of subscription fees or failure to resolve billing disputes within a reasonable timeframe.
• Upon receiving a valid legal order or request from a competent South African authority.

Termination by User: You may terminate your account at any time by initiating the account deletion process through your account settings. Account deletion requests are processed as follows:

• Your personal information (PII) will be purged within 30 days of your deletion request.
• Encrypted identity numbers will be securely destroyed.
• Active subscriptions will not be refunded for partial billing periods.
• Any pending verification cases will be closed.

Consequences of Termination: Upon termination, your right to access and use the Platform immediately ceases. TeachSA will retain certain data as required by law or legitimate business purposes, in accordance with the following retention schedule:

• Verification documents and cases: retained for 5 years.
• Audit logs: retained for 7 years.
• Profile data: retained for 3 years after last account activity (or until account deletion is processed).

For further details on data handling post-termination, refer to our Privacy Policy.

17. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including the CPA:

1. No Liability for Hiring Decisions: TeachSA is a platform that facilitates connections between Seekers and Posters. TeachSA is not a recruitment agency and does not make hiring decisions. TeachSA shall not be liable for any employment decisions, outcomes, or disputes arising between Seekers and Posters.
2. Verification Accuracy:While TeachSA employs commercially reasonable measures to verify User information, TeachSA does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any verification outcome. Verification results are provided on an "as-is" basis, and TeachSA shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in verification results.
3. User Provided Data: TeachSA does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for the accuracy of information provided by Users, including qualifications, experience, institutional affiliations, and vacancy details. You rely on such information at your own risk.
4. Service Interruptions:TeachSA shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from scheduled or unscheduled service interruptions, maintenance, system failures, or performance degradation, except where such interruption is caused by TeachSA's gross negligence.
5. Third Party Actions: TeachSA shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the actions, omissions, or failures of third party service providers used by the Platform.
6. Maximum Liability:In no event shall TeachSA's total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising out of or related to these Terms or your use of the Platform exceed the total fees paid by you to TeachSA during the 12-month period immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim. If you have not paid any fees, TeachSA's maximum liability shall be limited to R500 (ZAR).
7. Exclusion of Consequential Damages: TeachSA shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, loss of data, loss of business opportunity, reputational damage, or costs of procurement of substitute services, regardless of the theory of liability.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under South African law, including liability for fraud or gross negligence as defined in South African common law.

18. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless TeachSA Connect (Pty) Ltd, its directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees on an attorney-and-own-client scale) arising out of or in connection with:

1. Misrepresentation: Any false, inaccurate, or misleading information provided by you in connection with your account, profile, verification, or use of the Platform.
2. Breach of Terms: Your breach of any provision of these Terms, including the prohibited activities listed in Section 13 and the data handling obligations described herein.
3. Illegal Conduct: Any unlawful act or omission committed by you in connection with your use of the Platform, including violations of POPIA, ECTA, the CPA, Employment Equity Act, or any other applicable South African or international law.
4. Infringement: Any claim that Content uploaded by you to the Platform infringes upon the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or any other rights of a third party.
5. Employment Disputes:Any claims, disputes, or actions arising from any employment relationship or negotiations between you and another User, to the extent that such claims are not caused by TeachSA's gross negligence or wilful default.

This indemnification obligation shall survive the termination of your account and these Terms.

19. Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform, the following dispute resolution procedure shall apply:

1. Informal Resolution (30 Days): You must first attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting TeachSA at info@teachsaconnect.co.za. TeachSA will endeavour to resolve the dispute within 30 days of receiving your written complaint. Both parties agree to negotiate in good faith to reach an amicable resolution.
2. Mediation: If the dispute cannot be resolved informally within 30 days, either party may refer the dispute to mediation administered by an independent mediator agreed upon by both parties, or, failing agreement, appointed by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA). The costs of mediation shall be shared equally between the parties.
3. Court Proceedings: If the dispute is not resolved through mediation within 60 days of referral, either party may institute proceedings in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, which shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

No Class Actions: All disputes must be brought in your individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. You agree to waive any right to participate in a class action, class arbitration, or any consolidated proceeding against TeachSA.

Urgent Relief: Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking urgent interim relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm pending the outcome of the dispute resolution process.

20. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria for the resolution of any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms, subject to the dispute resolution procedures set out in Section 19.

These Terms are subject to, and must be read in conjunction with, the following South African legislation to the extent applicable:

• The Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA)
• The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA)
• The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA)
• The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998
• The Copyright Act 98 of 1978
• The Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993

In the event of any conflict between these Terms and any applicable South African legislation, the legislation shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

21. General Provisions

• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed from these Terms, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a valid provision that most closely achieves the economic and legal intent of the original provision.
• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, POPIA Compliance Statement, Cookie Policy, Acceptable Use Policy, Verification Consent, and Disclaimer, constitute the entire agreement between you and TeachSA with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, understandings, and representations.
• No Waiver: The failure of TeachSA to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by a duly authorised representative of TeachSA.
• Assignment:You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights or obligations hereunder without TeachSA's prior written consent. TeachSA may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms to a successor entity in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of substantially all of its assets, upon notice to you.
• Force Majeure: TeachSA shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under these Terms due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of government, war, terrorism, civil unrest, pandemics, power outages, telecommunications failures, or third party service disruptions (force majeure events).
• Notices: TeachSA may deliver notices to you via email to the address associated with your account, via in platform notifications, or via a prominent banner on the Platform. You agree that electronic notices satisfy any legal requirement that communications be in writing, in accordance with ECTA Section 12.
• Electronic Communications: In accordance with ECTA Sections 11 and 12, you consent to the use of electronic communications for all purposes relating to these Terms, including the formation of agreements, delivery of notices, and confirmation of transactions. Electronic records and signatures shall be valid and enforceable to the same extent as their paper equivalents.
• Headings: Section headings in these Terms are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of any provision.

22. Changes to Terms

TeachSA reserves the right to update, amend, or modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be handled as follows:

• Notice Period: You will be given at least 30 days' prior notice of any changes to these Terms. Notice will be provided via email to the address associated with your account and/or via a prominent banner on the Platform.
• Continued Use: Your continued use of the Platform after the 30-day notice period constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must cease using the Platform and delete your account before the revised Terms take effect.
• Material Changes: For changes that materially affect your rights or obligations—including changes to pricing, verification processes, data handling practices, or liability provisions—TeachSA will require your explicit re-consent. You will be prompted to review and accept the revised Terms upon your next login.
• Version History: The effective date of the current Terms is displayed at the top of this page. Previous versions of these Terms may be requested by contacting info@teachsaconnect.co.za.

23. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about these Terms or your use of the Platform, please contact us using the details below:

• Company: TeachSA Connect (Pty) Ltd
• Location: Randburg, Gauteng, Republic of South Africa
• General Enquiries: info@teachsaconnect.co.za
• Privacy and Data Protection: privacy@teachsaconnect.co.za
• Telephone: +27-12-345-6789

For POPIA-related requests, including Subject Access Requests, requests for correction or deletion of personal information, or objections to processing, please contact our Information Officer at privacy@teachsaconnect.co.za. We will respond to all valid requests within the timeframes prescribed by POPIA (generally within 30 days).

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa at inforeg.org.za.