LOKALE TERMS OF USE

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern access to and use of the Lokale website, mobile application, and related services (together, the "Platform"), operated by Lokaleapp (Pty) Ltd, trading as "Lokale" ("Lokale", "we", "us", or "our"). By creating an account, browsing the Platform, or using it in any way, you agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

1. Definitions

In these Terms, the following words have the meanings set out below, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Platform means the Lokale website and mobile application, and any related features or services that allow Users to discover, showcase, and buy or sell products through short-form video and social commerce.
• User means any person who accesses or uses the Platform in any capacity, whether as a shopper browsing and purchasing products, or as a Service Provider showcasing and selling products. Every Service Provider is also a User for the purposes of these Terms.
• Service Provider (also referred to as a "Vendor" or "Seller") means a User who lists, showcases, offers, or sells products through the Platform, including local fashion brands and other businesses onboarded to sell via the Platform.
• Account means the registered profile a User creates to access and use the Platform.
• Content means any video, image, text, product listing, message, or other material uploaded, posted, or shared on the Platform by a User.
• Order means a single-product purchase transaction concluded by a shopper via the Platform. The Platform does not use a multi-item shopping cart; each Order relates to one product from one Service Provider.
• Commission means the ten percent (10%) fee retained by Lokale from the price of each product sold, as described in clause 5.
• Courier Guy means the third-party courier service engaged by Lokale to manage delivery for Orders designated for Lokale-managed delivery.
• PAXI means the point-to-point parcel service used to fulfil Orders designated for Service-Provider-managed delivery.
• Paystack means the third-party payment service provider used by Lokale to process and split payments.
• CPA means the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, as amended.
• ECTA means the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002, as amended.

2. Nature of the Platform

Lokale operates a technology platform that connects shoppers with independent Service Providers, and facilitates the checkout, payment, and (in respect of certain Orders) delivery of products sold on the Platform. Lokale does not itself manufacture, own, or stock the products listed on the Platform, and the underlying sale agreement for each Order is concluded between the shopper and the Service Provider, with Lokale facilitating that transaction as described in these Terms.

Service Providers are independently responsible for their own products, listings, pricing, descriptions, stock availability, quality, safety, and legal compliance (including compliance with the CPA and any other applicable consumer or trade legislation).

Delivery. Depending on the Service Provider's configuration for a given product, an Order is fulfilled in one of two ways:

• Courier Guy (Lokale-managed): Lokale books the collection from the Service Provider and manages delivery to the shopper directly through Courier Guy.
• PAXI (Service-Provider-managed): the Service Provider is responsible for dropping the Order off at a PAXI point for collection by the shopper at their chosen PAXI location.

Because delivery for Courier Guy Orders is managed directly by Lokale, Lokale accepts responsibility for that delivery leg as set out in clause 10 (Limitation of Liability). For PAXI Orders, the physical handoff is the Service Provider's responsibility, though Lokale remains responsible for helping resolve delivery-related disputes in accordance with guidance from the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO).

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

To use the Platform, you must be able to form a legally binding contract under South African law. By registering, you confirm that the information you provide is accurate, current, and complete, and you agree to keep it updated.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials (including your password and any one-time codes) and for all activity that takes place under your Account. You must notify Lokale immediately if you suspect unauthorised access to, or use of, your Account. Lokale is not liable for any loss arising from your failure to keep your credentials secure, except where that loss is caused by Lokale's own negligence.

4. Vendor Verification (KYC)

To protect shoppers, other Service Providers, and the Platform against fraud, every Service Provider must complete Lokale's know-your-customer ("KYC") verification before their first product can go live. This includes providing:

• a valid South African identity number (or, for a juristic person, the identity numbers of its directors or members);
• a legible copy of the relevant identity document or passport; and
• proof of residential address, dated within the last three months.

Lokale may decline to activate, or may suspend, a Service Provider's account until this verification is satisfactorily completed, and may request updated KYC documentation at any time. KYC information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

5. Checkout, Payment and Commission

Single-item checkout. Because the Platform does not use a shopping cart, each purchase is a single checkout for one product. Before payment, you will be shown the product price, delivery fee, and total, which you can review before confirming.

Payment. All payments are processed securely through Paystack. By paying for an Order, you authorise Lokale to instruct Paystack to split your payment between Lokale and the relevant Service Provider, as described below.

Commission and split. Lokale retains a Commission of ten percent (10%) of the product price on every completed Order; the Service Provider receives the remaining ninety percent (90%). This split, including the exact amount the Service Provider will receive for a specific Order, is disclosed to the Service Provider before they are required to fulfil that Order.

• For PAXI Orders, the delivery fee is paid to the Service Provider, in addition to their 90% share, as compensation for the Service Provider personally handling the drop-off.
• For Courier Guy Orders, the delivery fee is retained by Lokale, which uses it to pay for the courier booking directly.

Payment to Service Providers is settled automatically by Paystack to their registered bank account; Lokale does not manually hold or forward Service Provider funds.

6. Order Fulfilment

Service Providers are required to prepare and hand over each Order — for collection by Courier Guy, or for drop-off at a PAXI point — within 24 business hours of receiving the order notification. Where a Service Provider fails to do so, Lokale will first follow up with the Service Provider before taking any further action, including cancelling the Order and refunding the shopper. Repeated or unexplained non-fulfilment may result in account suspension and, in circumstances giving Lokale reasonable grounds to suspect dishonesty, a fraud report to the South African Police Service or another competent authority.

7. Returns and Refunds

Returns and refunds are handled centrally by Lokale, not directly between the shopper and the Service Provider, and are governed by our separate Return Policy and Refunds Policy, which form part of these Terms. In summary: returned products are sent to Lokale's central warehouse, Lokale reviews and investigates a return before a refund is issued, and the Service Provider's original share of the sale is subsequently recovered from the Service Provider once the refund is processed.

8. Account Suspension and Termination

Lokale may, at its discretion and where reasonably necessary to protect the Platform, other Users, or our business, suspend or permanently terminate a User's Account, with or without prior notice, in circumstances including (without limitation) where a User:

• engages in fraud or attempted fraud, including payment fraud;
• sells or attempts to sell counterfeit, stolen, or prohibited products;
• repeatedly violates these Terms, our policies, or applicable law;
• engages in abusive, harassing, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate behaviour towards other Users or Lokale staff;
• poses a security risk to the Platform, other Users, or Lokale's systems;
• impersonates another person or entity, or misrepresents their identity or affiliation;
• engages in illegal activity of any kind; or
• otherwise engages in conduct that Lokale reasonably considers harmful to the integrity, safety, or reputation of the Platform.

Where practicable, Lokale will explain the reason for a suspension or termination. Where an Account is terminated for the reasons above, the User will not be entitled to a refund of any fees already paid, save as required by law.

8.1 Deletion by the User

Users may request deletion of their own Account at any time by contacting Lokale using the details in clause 13. Lokale will action such requests within a reasonable time, subject to clause 8.2 below.

8.2 Retention After Termination or Deletion

Even after an Account is terminated, suspended, or deleted, Lokale may retain certain information about a User where reasonably necessary for legal, financial, tax, fraud-prevention, or dispute-resolution purposes, or where retention is otherwise required or permitted by applicable law, including the CPA and any tax or financial recordkeeping legislation. Retained information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

9. Security of Your Information

Lokale implements industry-standard technical and organisational security measures designed to protect User information, including:

• encrypted data transmission using HTTPS/TLS;
• secure cloud infrastructure;
• encrypted storage of information, where applicable;
• password hashing (passwords are never stored in plain text);
• role-based access controls limiting who within Lokale can access User information, including KYC documentation;
• monitoring and logging of system activity to help detect suspicious behaviour;
• regular security updates and patching; and
• secure processing of payments through Paystack.

No system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. While Lokale takes reasonable and industry-standard steps to protect User information and to avoid a data breach, we cannot guarantee absolute security, and use of the Platform is at the User's own risk in this regard.

9.1 Incident Response and Notification

Lokale maintains procedures to respond to security incidents. If a data breach or leak occurs that affects User information, Lokale will investigate the incident and, where required by law, notify affected Users and any relevant regulator without undue delay. Lokale is committed to doing its best to prevent such incidents from occurring, but cannot guarantee that a breach will never occur.

9.2 Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential and for using a strong, unique password. You must not share your login details with any other person. Lokale is not liable for losses arising from a User's failure to safeguard their own credentials.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, and without limiting any rights a User may have under the CPA that cannot lawfully be excluded, Lokale:

• is not liable for the quality, safety, legality, or authenticity of products listed by Service Providers, or for any failure by a Service Provider to prepare or hand over an Order within the required timeframe (which is dealt with under clause 6);
• accepts responsibility for the delivery leg of Courier Guy Orders, which Lokale books and manages directly, and will assist in resolving disputes relating to PAXI Orders in accordance with clause 2;
• is not liable for any fraud or misrepresentation committed by a Service Provider in respect of a product's description, quality, or authenticity; and
• is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss arising from use of the Platform, save to the extent such liability cannot be excluded under the CPA or other applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit any right or remedy a consumer has under the CPA that cannot be excluded or limited by agreement.

11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms, or to a User's use of the Platform, will be interpreted and resolved in accordance with South African law, including the CPA, ECTA, and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 where relevant.

Consumers retain all rights available to them under the CPA, including the right to refer unresolved disputes to the National Consumer Commission, the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud, an accredited consumer protection group, or the relevant consumer court, in addition to any other remedy available at law.

12. Changes to These Terms

Lokale may update these Terms from time to time. Where changes are material, we will take reasonable steps to notify Users, such as posting a notice on the Platform or updating the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, or wish to request deletion of your Account, please contact us at:

Email: info@lokaleapp.co.za