Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to Snokonoko.

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Snokonoko website, mobile application, payment functionality and related services (the "Platform"). Snokonoko is a product of SS Group (Pty) Ltd ("Snokonoko", "we", "us"), a company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa.

By registering for, accessing or using Snokonoko, or by proceeding with a transaction through the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms, to our Privacy Policy and to our Acceptable Use Policy. Our Pricing Policy, KYC Policy and Refund & Dispute Policy also form part of these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

2. About Snokonoko

Snokonoko is a technology platform that facilitates transactions and payment arrangements between users. The Platform enables users who wish to provide funds ("Lenders") and users who wish to receive funds ("Borrowers") to record and manage agreements between themselves and, where supported, facilitate associated payment and repayment processes through approved payment service providers.

Snokonoko is not a bank, credit provider, lender or debt-collection agency and does not itself lend money to Borrowers.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the underlying agreement to provide and repay funds is entered into directly between the Lender and Borrower. Snokonoko provides the technology and administrative infrastructure used to facilitate and record the transaction.

3. Eligibility and registration

To use Snokonoko, a user must:

• be at least 18 years old;
• have legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement;
• provide accurate, complete and current information;
• complete any identity, account or verification procedures required by Snokonoko or its payment partners; and
• use the Platform only for lawful purposes.

Snokonoko may request additional information or documentation where reasonably required for identity verification, fraud prevention, regulatory compliance or payment processing. What we may ask for, and when, is set out in our KYC Policy.

Users are responsible for keeping their account credentials secure, and for everything done on their account. Tell us immediately at info@snokonoko.co.za if you believe your account has been accessed without your permission.

4. Relationship between Borrower and Lender

The Lender and Borrower enter into the underlying transaction with each other.

Before accepting a transaction, both parties must review and accept the applicable transaction details displayed by Snokonoko, which may include:

• the amount being provided;
• the amount to be repaid;
• the repayment date or repayment schedule;
• any applicable Snokonoko platform or administration fee; and
• any other transaction-specific terms presented before acceptance.

Acceptance through the Platform constitutes confirmation that the user has reviewed and accepted the relevant transaction details. Those details are frozen at the moment of acceptance and cannot afterwards be altered by either party, or by Snokonoko.

5. Borrower's responsibilities

By accepting a transaction as a Borrower, the Borrower confirms that:

• the information supplied to Snokonoko is accurate;
• the Borrower understands the amount being received;
• the Borrower understands the amount required to be repaid;
• the Borrower understands the agreed repayment date or schedule;
• the Borrower understands any applicable platform or administration fee;
• the Borrower has voluntarily entered into the arrangement with the Lender; and
• the Borrower intends to meet the repayment obligations agreed with the Lender.

The Borrower is responsible for ensuring that sufficient funds are available when an authorised payment or collection becomes due.

Where the Borrower has provided a valid payment authorisation or mandate, the relevant payment service provider may process the authorised payment in accordance with that mandate and applicable payment rules. A mandate may be cancelled at any time, but cancelling it does not cancel the debt — the balance remains owing to the Lender.

6. Lender's responsibilities and risk

By participating as a Lender, the Lender acknowledges that providing funds to another person involves financial risk. The Lender is responsible for deciding whether to enter into the transaction with the Borrower.

Snokonoko does not guarantee:

• that a Borrower will repay any amount;
• that repayment will occur on the agreed date;
• the financial position or creditworthiness of a Borrower;
• that an attempted collection will be successful;
• that sufficient funds will be available in a Borrower's account; or
• that a Lender will recover the full amount provided.

The Lender accepts the risk associated with the underlying transaction. Nothing displayed on the Platform constitutes a guarantee by Snokonoko of repayment. You should only lend money you can afford to lose, and only to a person you know and trust.

7. Snokonoko is not the Lender

Snokonoko does not provide the underlying funds advanced by a Lender to a Borrower.

Snokonoko does not become the creditor merely because a transaction is created, administered, recorded or processed through the Platform. The underlying financial obligation remains between the relevant Lender and Borrower.

Nothing contained on the Platform should be interpreted as Snokonoko offering credit from its own funds unless expressly stated otherwise and permitted by applicable law.

8. Snokonoko is not a debt-collection agency

Snokonoko is not acting as a debt-collection agency on behalf of Lenders.

Payment reminders, automated notifications, payment instructions, transaction records, authorised collection attempts or other administrative functionality provided through the Platform form part of Snokonoko's technology and payment-facilitation services.

Such functionality should not be interpreted as Snokonoko purchasing, taking ownership of or independently enforcing a Lender's debt. We do not charge penalty or default fees, and we do not list users with credit bureaux.

Where a Borrower fails to meet an obligation, any rights available to the Lender in relation to the underlying agreement remain subject to applicable South African law.

9. Payments and payment processing

Payments facilitated through Snokonoko may be processed by third-party payment service providers, acquiring banks, card networks or other authorised financial-service infrastructure. The providers currently used are Peach Payments and PayFast.

Users may therefore be redirected from Snokonoko to a secure payment environment operated by an approved payment provider. Payment processing may be subject to additional terms imposed by the relevant payment provider, bank or card issuer, and we share the personal information needed to process a payment as described in our Privacy Policy.

Snokonoko does not guarantee uninterrupted operation of third-party banking or payment infrastructure.

A transaction activates only when a payment provider confirms the Lender's funding payment, and a repayment reduces the balance only when the provider confirms it has succeeded. We do not treat a payment as made on the strength of an attempt.

10. Payment authorisation

Where a user selects card payment or another supported payment method, the user authorises the relevant payment provider to process the transaction in accordance with the amount and payment instructions displayed and accepted by the user.

Before proceeding with payment, the cardholder must actively confirm acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. The Platform presents the following acknowledgement before payment:

I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to the Snokonoko Terms & Conditions, including the applicable fees, payment terms and Refund & Dispute Policy.

A user is not permitted to proceed to card payment without providing the required acknowledgement.

11. Platform and administration fees

Snokonoko charges an administration fee of 10% of the principal for services provided through the Platform. This fee covers the technology platform, user verification, transaction facilitation, customer support, fraud prevention and related administrative services, and is set out in full in our Pricing Policy.

The applicable fee is disclosed to the user before the relevant transaction is confirmed — to the Lender before an offer is sent, and to the Borrower before the offer is accepted. By confirming a transaction, the user accepts the disclosed fee. Neither party is ever charged a fee they have not seen.

The fee sits on both sides of the transaction, so that:

• the Lender advances the principal plus the fee, and is repaid the same amount — the Lender breaks even;
• the Borrower receives the principal and repays the principal plus the fee — the Borrower bears the fee;
• Snokonoko retains the fee as its revenue.

On a R500 transaction	Amount
Borrower receives	R500.00
Administration fee (10%)	R50.00
Lender pays at funding	R550.00
Borrower repays in total	R550.00
Lender is repaid	R550.00

No interest is charged, by us or by the Lender. The administration fee is the only charge, it is calculated once on the principal, and it does not increase if repayment takes longer than expected. The principal must be between R450 and R5,000.

Where Snokonoko charges a fee for a successfully facilitated service, that fee is generally non-refundable once the applicable service has been provided, except where:

• the fee was charged incorrectly;
• a duplicate charge occurred;
• a technical or processing error occurred; or
• a refund is required under applicable law.

We may change our fees. Changes will be communicated through the Platform before they take effect and will never apply to a transaction already accepted.

12. Refunds and disputes

Refunds and payment disputes are handled in accordance with our Refund & Dispute Policy, read together with §11 above.

Users who believe that a transaction is incorrect, duplicated, unauthorised or otherwise disputed should contact Snokonoko as soon as reasonably possible at info@snokonoko.co.za.

Snokonoko may investigate the transaction and obtain information from the relevant users, payment service provider, acquiring bank or other payment-processing partner. We will provide both parties with the agreement record and the payment history we hold, which is usually enough to settle the facts.

A dispute between a Lender and Borrower concerning the underlying obligation does not automatically entitle either party to a refund of a validly charged Snokonoko platform or administration fee.

13. Chargebacks and unauthorised transactions

Cardholders retain any chargeback or payment-dispute rights available through their card issuer and applicable card-scheme rules.

Users who believe their card or payment method has been used without authorisation should immediately notify both Snokonoko and their bank or card issuer.

Snokonoko may cooperate with its payment providers, acquiring bank and other relevant parties in investigating suspected fraudulent or unauthorised transactions.

14. No guarantee of successful collection

The availability of payment or collection functionality through Snokonoko does not constitute a guarantee that a payment will be successfully collected.

Collections may fail for reasons including insufficient funds, expired or blocked payment methods, banking-system interruptions, revoked authorisations or other circumstances outside Snokonoko's reasonable control. Where a collection fails we notify both parties; the balance remains outstanding and the agreed terms continue to apply.

Snokonoko will not be responsible for a Borrower's failure to meet an underlying repayment obligation merely because an attempted payment or collection was unsuccessful.

15. Transaction records

Snokonoko may maintain electronic records relating to transactions facilitated through the Platform, including transaction details, user acceptances, payment instructions, dates, amounts and transaction status.

Users acknowledge that electronic records generated through the Platform may be used for administrative, reconciliation, dispute-resolution, compliance and evidentiary purposes, subject to applicable law. Retention periods are set out in our Privacy Policy.

16. User information and verification

Users must provide truthful and accurate information when registering and conducting transactions.

Snokonoko reserves the right to restrict, suspend or terminate access where:

• false or misleading information has been supplied;
• fraud or attempted fraud is suspected;
• the Platform is being misused;
• a user violates these Terms;
• a payment provider or banking partner requires the restriction; or
• the restriction is reasonably necessary for legal, security or regulatory purposes.

17. Prohibited use

Users may not use Snokonoko:

• for fraudulent or unlawful transactions;
• using stolen or unauthorised payment instruments;
• to impersonate another person;
• to circumvent applicable laws or payment rules;
• to manipulate or abuse the Platform;
• to provide materially false information; or
• for any transaction prohibited by Snokonoko's payment or banking partners.

Our Acceptable Use Policy sets out permitted and prohibited use in full, and how we enforce it.

18. Limitation of Snokonoko's role and liability

Snokonoko provides technology and administrative services intended to facilitate transactions between users. We provide the Platform with reasonable skill and care, but we do not warrant that it will be uninterrupted or error-free.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Snokonoko will not be liable for losses arising solely from:

• a Borrower's failure to repay a Lender;
• a Lender's decision to provide funds to a Borrower;
• insufficient funds in a user's bank account;
• a payment being declined by a bank or payment provider;
• delays or outages within third-party banking or payment systems;
• disputes arising from representations made directly between users; or
• circumstances outside Snokonoko's reasonable control.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under South African law, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or any right you have under the Consumer Protection Act, 2008.

19. No financial or legal advice

Information provided through Snokonoko is provided for purposes of operating and explaining the Platform. Snokonoko does not provide users with personalised financial, investment or legal advice through the Platform.

Users remain responsible for assessing whether a transaction is appropriate for them and may obtain independent professional advice where necessary. We do not assess affordability or creditworthiness.

20. Privacy and personal information

Snokonoko will process personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy and applicable South African data-protection legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 ("POPIA").

Information may be shared with payment providers, banking partners, identity-verification providers and other authorised service providers where reasonably necessary to operate the Platform, process transactions, prevent fraud or comply with applicable law.

21. Electronic communications

Users consent to receiving transaction-related communications electronically, including through email, SMS, in-app notifications or other electronic communication methods supported by Snokonoko.

Electronic acceptance of these Terms, transaction terms or payment instructions may constitute an electronic agreement or record to the extent recognised by applicable South African law.

22. Suspension and termination

Snokonoko may suspend or terminate a user's access where reasonably necessary because of:

• a breach of these Terms;
• suspected fraudulent or unlawful activity;
• security concerns;
• requirements imposed by a payment or banking partner; or
• applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

Where it is lawful and practical to do so, we will tell you why. You may close your account at any time.

Termination of access does not automatically extinguish obligations already entered into between a Borrower and Lender before termination.

23. Changes to these Terms

Snokonoko may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to the Platform, payment arrangements, operational requirements or applicable law.

The current version is made available through the Snokonoko website or application together with its effective or last-updated date, shown at the top of this page.

Where required, users may be asked to accept updated Terms before continuing to use certain services. Amendments never change the terms of a transaction already accepted.

24. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Any dispute relating to the use of Snokonoko will be dealt with in accordance with applicable South African law and any dispute-resolution procedures provided through the Platform.

Nothing in these Terms limits any rights available to a consumer that cannot lawfully be waived or excluded.

25. Contact and support

Questions, complaints or disputes regarding Snokonoko may be directed to:

Snokonoko Support
SS Group (Pty) Ltd
Email: info@snokonoko.co.za
Telephone: 076 082 2884
Business address: 3 Rosemary Road, Glenhazel, Sunningdale, 2192, South Africa
Website: www.snokonoko.co.za

Important platform disclaimer

Snokonoko is a technology platform that facilitates transactions and payment arrangements between users. Snokonoko is not the lender in transactions concluded between users, does not itself provide the underlying loan funds, and does not guarantee repayment by a Borrower.

Snokonoko is not a debt-collection agency and does not purchase or take ownership of debts between users. Any underlying obligation remains between the relevant Lender and Borrower, subject to applicable South African law.

Users should understand the risks and terms of a transaction before accepting it.