Terms of Service

1. Introduction

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Predict South Africa platform, including the website at predictsa.co.za, any mobile applications, APIs, and all related services (collectively, the “Platform”). The Platform is owned and operated by Predict South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“Predict SA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a private company registered in the Republic of South Africa.

By creating an account, accessing the Platform, or placing any trade, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and Predict SA. We recommend that you print or save a copy of these Terms for your records.

2. Definitions

In these Terms, the following words have these meanings:

• “Market” — a prediction contract listed on the Platform representing a binary outcome on a future event.
• “Share” — a unit of trade representing a position in a Market. Shares are priced between R0.01 and R1.00.
• “Trade” — the purchase or sale of Shares in a Market.
• “Resolution”— the final determination of a Market's outcome by Predict SA.
• “Wallet” — your virtual account on the Platform holding your ZAR balance.
• “FICA” — the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act No. 38 of 2001).
• “NGB” — the National Gambling Board of South Africa.
• “POPIA” — the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013).

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Age Restriction

You must be at least 18 (eighteen) years of age to create an account and use the Platform. By registering, you warrant that you meet this age requirement. Predict SA reserves the right to request proof of age and to suspend or terminate any account where the user is found to be under 18. It is a criminal offence in South Africa for any person under 18 to participate in gambling activities.

3.2 South African Residence

The Platform is intended for users who are resident in the Republic of South Africa. Users from other jurisdictions are responsible for determining whether their access to and use of the Platform is lawful in their jurisdiction. Predict SA does not accept users from jurisdictions where prediction markets or online gambling are prohibited, including but not limited to the United States of America, the People's Republic of China, and any jurisdiction subject to comprehensive sanctions by the South African government or the United Nations.

3.3 Account Registration

To use the Platform, you must create an account by providing:

• Your full legal name as it appears on your South African ID document
• A valid South African ID number
• A valid email address and mobile phone number
• Your date of birth
• Your physical residential address in South Africa
• A self-selected username and password

You warrant that all information you provide is true, accurate, and complete. Providing false or misleading information is a breach of these Terms and may result in immediate account termination and forfeiture of any funds.

3.4 FICA Verification

In compliance with FICA, Predict SA is required to verify your identity before you may deposit or withdraw funds. You agree to provide:

• A copy of your green barcoded South African ID book or smart ID card
• Proof of residential address not older than 3 months
• Any additional documentation requested for enhanced due diligence

You may not deposit or withdraw funds until your identity has been verified. Predict SA uses third-party KYC (Know Your Customer) service providers to conduct identity verification. By registering, you consent to such verification.

4. Nature of the Platform

Predict South Africa is a prediction market platform. Users trade Shares representing the probable outcome of future events. The Platform operates as a licensed betting operator under the regulatory oversight of the relevant provincial gambling board and the National Gambling Board of South Africa.

Prediction markets differ from traditional fixed-odds sports betting in that:

• Share prices fluctuate continuously based on market demand and new information
• You may buy and sell positions at any time before market resolution
• The price of a Share represents the market's collective probability estimate
• The Platform charges a resolution fee on net profits, not a bookmaker's margin

5. Deposits, Withdrawals, and Fees

5.1 Deposits

You may deposit funds into your Wallet using the payment methods available on the Platform, including PayFast, Ozow, and 1Voucher. Deposits are subject to a minimum of R50.00 and a maximum of R25,000.00 per transaction. Higher limits may be available on request subject to enhanced due diligence. Deposits are typically credited within minutes but may take up to 2 business days depending on the payment method and your bank.

5.2 Withdrawals

You may withdraw available funds from your Wallet at any time, subject to a minimum withdrawal of R100.00. Withdrawals are processed to the bank account registered in your name. The name on your bank account must match the name on your Predict SA account. Withdrawals are typically processed within 1-3 business days. Predict SA may delay or refuse a withdrawal if it reasonably suspects fraudulent activity, money laundering, or a breach of these Terms.

5.3 Fees

Our fee schedule is published at /fees. In summary:

• Resolution fee: 3% of net profit on winning positions
• Early exit fee: 1% of sale value when selling before resolution
• No deposit fees, no withdrawal fees, no account fees, no inactivity fees

Predict SA reserves the right to modify its fee schedule. Any changes will be communicated via email and posted on the Platform at least 14 days before taking effect.

6. Trading Rules

6.1 Placing Trades

All trades are final once executed. You are responsible for reviewing your trade details before confirming. Predict SA does not cancel or reverse trades except in the case of a manifest Platform error (see section 6.6).

6.2 Share Pricing

Shares are priced between R0.01 and R0.99. The price reflects the probability implied by the most recent trades. Prices are determined by supply and demand among Platform users. Predict SA does not set prices, act as a market maker, or guarantee liquidity in any Market.

6.3 Market Resolution

Markets are resolved by Predict SA based on verifiable, publicly available, official sources. The resolution source and criteria are specified in each Market's description before trading opens. Resolution decisions are final and binding. Predict SA will publish the resolution source and reasoning alongside each resolved Market.

6.4 Payouts

When a Market resolves, Shares on the correct outcome are redeemed at R1.00 each. Shares on incorrect outcomes are redeemed at R0.00. Winnings, less applicable fees, are credited to your Wallet. Payouts are processed within 24 hours of market resolution.

6.5 Market Cancellation

Predict SA may, in its sole discretion, cancel a Market before resolution if: (a) the event becomes impossible to verify; (b) the event description is found to be ambiguous or contradictory; (c) materially new information emerges that fundamentally alters the nature of the question; or (d) it is required to do so by law or regulatory direction. In the event of cancellation, all open positions are refunded at the price paid.

6.6 Manifest Errors

If a trade is executed at a price that is manifestly incorrect due to a Platform error (a “Manifest Error”), Predict SA reserves the right to void the trade and restore the affected parties to the position they were in before the erroneous trade. Predict SA will notify affected users as soon as reasonably practicable.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You agree that you will not, and will not attempt to:

• Create more than one account per person
• Use the Platform on behalf of another person or entity
• Manipulate or attempt to manipulate any Market, including by coordinated trading, wash trading, or spreading false information
• Trade on the basis of material non-public information that you know or ought reasonably to know gives you an unfair advantage
• Use any automated trading system, bot, script, or algorithmic trading tool without prior written consent from Predict SA
• Attempt to hack, disrupt, reverse-engineer, or otherwise compromise the Platform's security
• Use the Platform for money laundering, terrorist financing, or any other illegal purpose
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users or Predict SA staff
• Post illegal, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content on the Platform
• Circumvent any Platform restrictions, limits, or security measures

8. Limitation of Liability

8.1 To the maximum extent permitted by South African law, Predict SA, its directors, employees, agents, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform, whether based on contract, delict (tort), strict liability, or any other legal theory, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

8.2 Without limiting the foregoing, Predict SA is not liable for:

• Trading losses incurred through your use of the Platform
• Losses caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including force majeure events
• Losses caused by third-party service providers, including payment processors and KYC providers
• Losses caused by your failure to secure your account credentials
• Losses caused by errors in your trade instructions
• Losses caused by scheduled or unscheduled Platform downtime

8.3 If, despite the above, Predict SA is found liable, the total aggregate liability to you shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the total fees paid by you to Predict SA in the 6 months preceding the claim; or (b) R5,000.00.

8.4 Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our gross negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under South African law.

9. Risk Disclosure and Acknowledgment

By using the Platform, you acknowledge and accept the following risks:

Gambling involves risk. By using this Platform, you acknowledge that you are participating in a gambling activity as defined under South African law. You are encouraged to gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation on 0800 006 008.

10. Intellectual Property

The Platform, including its design, code, graphics, logos, trademarks, and all content (except user-generated content), is owned by or licensed to Predict SA and is protected by South African and international intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any part of the Platform without our prior written consent. “Predict South Africa” and the Predict SA logo are trademarks of Predict South Africa (Pty) Ltd.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Predict SA, its directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with: (a) your breach of these Terms; (b) your use of the Platform; (c) your violation of any law or regulation; or (d) your infringement of any third-party rights.

12. Suspension and Termination

12.1 By You. You may close your account at any time by contacting us at legal@predictsa.co.za. Upon account closure, any available Wallet balance will be paid out to your registered bank account within 14 business days, subject to any pending trades or unresolved Markets. Open positions will be liquidated at the prevailing market price at the time of closure.

12.2 By Us. Predict SA may suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if:

• You breach any provision of these Terms
• We reasonably suspect fraudulent, illegal, or suspicious activity
• We are required to do so by law, regulation, or a court order
• You fail FICA verification or provide false information
• You engage in market manipulation or insider trading
• You use the Platform from a prohibited jurisdiction

12.3 Effect of Termination. Upon termination, your right to access the Platform ceases immediately. Any available Wallet balance (excluding funds reasonably withheld pending investigation) will be returned to you. If your account is terminated for fraud, market manipulation, or illegal activity, Predict SA reserves the right to withhold funds and report the matter to the relevant authorities.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

13.1 Governing Law. These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. You submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.

13.2 Disputes. If you have a complaint or dispute, you must first contact us at legal@predictsa.co.za. We will acknowledge your complaint within 48 hours and aim to resolve it within 14 business days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate the matter to the relevant provincial gambling board or the National Gambling Board.

13.3 Arbitration.Any dispute not resolved through our complaints process may be referred to arbitration under the rules of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA). The arbitration shall be held in Cape Town, South Africa, in English, before a single arbitrator. The arbitrator's award shall be final and binding.

14. Changes to These Terms

Predict SA may modify these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email to your registered email address and by posting a notice on the Platform at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must close your account and cease using the Platform before the effective date.

15. Responsible Gambling

Predict SA is committed to promoting responsible gambling. We provide the following tools and resources:

• Deposit limits — set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit caps via your account settings
• Self-exclusion — request exclusion from the Platform for a period of 6 months, 1 year, or permanently
• Activity statements — download your complete trading and transaction history
• Reality checks — optional session time and spend reminders

Warning: Gambling can be addictive. Know your limits and never chase losses. If gambling is affecting your life, your family, or your finances, help is available.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Fee Schedule, constitute the entire agreement between you and Predict SA regarding the Platform.

16.2 Severability. If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force.

16.3 No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any right does not constitute a waiver of that right.

16.4 Assignment. You may not assign your rights or obligations under these Terms. Predict SA may assign these Terms to an affiliate or successor entity.

16.5 Survival. Sections relating to limitation of liability, indemnification, intellectual property, and dispute resolution survive termination of these Terms.

17. Contact Information