Welcome to Grocery Stokvel ("GroceryStokvel", "the Platform", "we", "us", "our"). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of our website, mobile applications, and services. By accessing or using Grocery Stokvel, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms.
If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must stop using the Platform immediately.
2. Definitions
"Platform" – the Grocery Stokvel website, mobile applications, backend systems, and related services.
"User" – any individual accessing or using the Platform.
"Stokvel" – a digital savings group created and managed on the Platform under Banks Act Exemption 620 (2014).
"Member" – a User who has joined a Stokvel group.
"Admin" – a User who creates and manages a Stokvel group.
"Contribution" – monetary payments made by Members into a Stokvel for grocery purchases.
"Cycle" – the defined duration of a stokvel (e.g., 6 months, 12 months).
"Common Bond" – the shared relationship required under law for stokvel formation.
"Interest Retention Fee" – incidental interest retained by the Platform as an administrative fee.
"Personal Information" – user data protected under POPIA.
"We/Us/Our" – GroceryStokvel (Pty) Ltd.
3. Eligibility
To use Grocery Stokvel, you must:
Be at least 18 years old
Be a resident of South Africa
Provide accurate, true, and complete information
Maintain the security of your account credentials
Not have been previously suspended or banned
Meet the common bond requirement of any Stokvel group you join
4. Account Registration & Security
By creating an account, you agree to:
Provide accurate and up-to-date registration information
Keep your password confidential
Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
Take responsibility for all activity under your account
Not create duplicate or fraudulent accounts
We reserve the right to verify identities and suspend accounts for suspicious activity.
5. Nature of the Platform (Critical Legal Clause)
GroceryStokvel is a digital facilitation platform. We provide:
Tools for creating and managing stokvels
Contribution tracking
Group administration features
Payment processing integrations
Grocery procurement support
We are NOT:
A bank
A credit provider
A financial advisor
An investment platform
A savings account
A collective investment scheme
A deposit-taking institution under the Banks Act
A financial services provider under the FAIS Act
We do NOT offer:
Financial returns
Interest to members
Investments
Credit or loans
Savings products
All member funds belong to the members, not the Platform.
6. Stokvel Creation & Management
6.1 Creating a Stokvel (Admin Responsibilities)
Admins agree to:
Set clear contribution rules
Manage invitations and member applications
Ensure the group has a valid common bond
Ensure fair distribution of grocery benefits
Manage member expectations
Resolve member disputes
Ensure compliance with group limits and laws
6.2 Joining a Stokvel (Member Responsibilities)
Members agree to:
Make contributions on schedule
Follow the stokvel's constitution and rules
Engage respectfully with other members
Provide accurate delivery or pickup information
Accept group decisions democratically
7. Common Bond Requirement (Banks Act Compliance)
Each stokvel created on the platform must have a defined common bond, such as:
Living in the same area
Working in the same company
Being part of the same association or organisation
Church or community group membership
The common bond ensures the stokvel qualifies for legal exemption from the Banks Act.
8. Payments & Contributions
8.1 Payment Processing
All payments are securely processed through Paystack. By making a payment, you accept Paystack's terms. A 2.9% card payment processing fee applies to cover bank gateway costs.
8.2 Contribution Obligations
Members must pay contributions according to the schedule defined by their stokvel. If a member fails to contribute:
They may be suspended or removed by the Admin
They may lose the right to receive groceries at cycle end
They may be subject to group penalties governed by the constitution
8.3 Contribution Limits (R100,000 Cap)
To comply with Banks Act Exemption 620 of 2014:
A stokvel may not hold more than R100,000 in total pooled contributions
The Platform will warn groups nearing the limit
Groups exceeding this limit must register with NASASA or another SRO
The Platform is not responsible for registering groups.
8.4 Refund Policy
Refunds depend on individual stokvel rules
Payment processing fees are non-refundable
Refund requests must be made within 7 days
Refunds may only occur before grocery purchases for the cycle