Seller Agreement

1. The Marketplace Relationship

Mawaza Mart provides an online platform that connects independent Sellers with Buyers. By registering as a Seller, you acknowledge that Mawaza Mart is a facilitator and does not take title to the goods sold between you and the Buyer. These terms are in addition to our general Website Terms of Use.

2. Commission, Fees & Taxes

For every successful transaction, the following fee structure is deducted from the Product Price:

*Gateway Rates: Ozow charges 1.5% for Pay-by-Bank (EFT) and between 2.65% - 2.85% for Card payments (min. R1.00 per transaction). A 15% VAT charge applies to the Ozow processing fee portion only. Tax Responsibility: Sellers are solely responsible for their own income tax or VAT obligations to SARS.

3. Product Listing & Staff Approval

Sellers may upload product listings to their dashboard immediately. However, to ensure platform quality, products will only be visible to the public once they have been manually reviewed and approved by a Mawaza Mart staff member.

4. FICA Verification & Eligibility

The 'Add to Cart' functionality remains disabled for your products until you have successfully uploaded a valid South African ID or Passport and a valid Proof of Residence (not older than 3 months). Accepted Proof of Residence includes: Utility bills (Rates, Water, Electricity), Bank Statements, Formal Lease Agreements, or a Letter from a Ward Councilor. Verification is a mandatory requirement to ensure the security of the marketplace.

5. Payouts & Settlement Cycle

To protect the integrity of the platform, payouts are processed 5 business days after the Buyer has successfully received the order. Payouts are strictly withheld until a valid Bank Confirmation Letter matching your registered Identity is verified. All settlements are paid via EFT.

6. Fulfillment & Logistics

Sellers must use our integrated shipping labels (The Courier Guy) and mark items as 'Ready for Drop-off' within 48 hours. Mawaza Mart is not liable for items damaged due to poor packaging; the Seller warrants that packaging is sufficient for courier handling.

7. Consumer Protection Act (CPA) Compliance

In accordance with the CPA, Buyers have a right to return goods that are defective or not as described. Sellers must resolve disputes within 5 business days. If a dispute is not resolved, Mawaza Mart reserves the right to refund the Buyer from the Seller's pending funds.

8. Data Privacy (POPIA)

You are an 'Operator' of Buyer data under POPIA. You may only use Buyer details for fulfillment. Any other use (marketing or selling data) is a criminal offense and results in an immediate permanent ban.

9. Prohibited Items & Illegal Goods

Selling counterfeit, stolen, or illegal substances is strictly prohibited. Mawaza Mart maintains a zero-tolerance policy; suspected criminal activity will be reported to SAPS, and all Seller data will be handed over to authorities without prior notice.

10. Non-Circumvention

Soliciting Buyers to pay 'outside' the platform to avoid commission is a material breach. Any Seller caught bypassing the Ozow checkout will be permanently banned.

11. Account Governance

Mawaza Mart reserves the right to audit accounts. Accounts with high cancellation rates or poor ratings may be suspended or terminated with notice.

12. Limitation of Liability

Mawaza Mart is not liable for service interruptions or delivery failures caused by Force Majeure, including riots, natural disasters, or total grid collapse.

13. General Indemnity

The Seller agrees to indemnify Mawaza Mart against any claims, losses, or legal costs arising from the Seller's products or breach of South African law.

14. Refund Recovery & Reverse Logistics

If a refund is issued due to Seller error (defective item, incorrect size, etc.), the original delivery fee, transaction costs, and return shipping costs will be charged to the Seller. This will be deducted from current or future sales.

15. Amendments to These Terms

Mawaza Mart reserves the right to amend these terms at any time. Sellers will be notified of material changes via their registered email address with a minimum of 7 days notice prior to the changes taking effect. Continued use of the platform after the effective date of any amendment constitutes acceptance of the updated terms. It is your responsibility to review these terms periodically.