SCHOOL Platform — Terms of Service

Effective Date: 1 May 2026 Version: 1.0

Summary (plain language — not a substitute for the full terms below): These Terms are a binding contract between you and SCHOOL. You must be 13 or older (and have parental consent if under 18) to use the platform. You keep ownership of your content. SCHOOL is a marketplace — tutors are independent contractors, not employees. Your wallet credits are non-refundable except where the Consumer Protection Act requires otherwise. Disputes go to South African courts under South African law.

1. Who We Are

DITSHEGO VENTURES (Pty) Ltd t/a SCHOOL ("SCHOOL", "we", "us", "our") is a company incorporated under the laws of South Africa (Registration Number: 2026/349873/07). We operate an educational technology platform at school.ditshego-ventures.co.za (the "Platform") that provides South African learners with curriculum learning, past papers, AI-assisted study tools, a tutor marketplace, and related academic services.

Contact details (required by the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002, Section 43):

• Full legal name: DITSHEGO VENTURES (Pty) Ltd t/a SCHOOL
• Registration number: pending — CIPC registration in progress
• Physical address: 273 Ferguson Crescent, Eersterus, Pretoria, 0022, South Africa
• Email: legal@school.ditshego-ventures.co.za
• Phone: +27 62 960 3988
• Website: school.ditshego-ventures.co.za
• Information Officer: MK Ditshego — information-officer@school.ditshego-ventures.co.za

2. Scope and Acceptance

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Platform, including all applications, APIs, content, features, and services offered through the Platform.

By creating an account, clicking "I agree," or using any part of the Platform, you confirm that:

1. You have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms;
2. You meet the age requirements in Section 3;
3. Where you agree on behalf of an organisation or school, you have authority to bind that entity.

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

These Terms incorporate by reference:

• The Privacy Policy ([link])
• The Acceptable Use Policy ([link])
• The Cookie Policy ([link])
• The Copyright and Content Policy ([link])
• The Refund and Credits Policy ([link])
• The Tutor Service Agreement (for tutors) ([link])

In the event of a conflict between these Terms and any incorporated policy, these Terms prevail unless a policy expressly states otherwise.

3. Age Requirements and Parental Consent

3.1 Minimum Age

The Platform is not intended for children under the age of 13 years. By registering, you confirm that you are at least 13 years old.

3.2 Users Under 18 (Minors)

If you are between 13 and 17 years of age, you are a minor under South African law (Children's Act 38 of 2005) and:

• A parent or legal guardian must consent to your use of the Platform and these Terms;
• Your parent or guardian is jointly responsible for your compliance with these Terms;
• Your parent or guardian may be required to verify consent during registration or at any time we request it;
• SCHOOL processes your personal information only with appropriate parental consent as required by the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA").

3.3 School and Institutional Accounts

Where a school or institution registers learners in bulk, the institution confirms that appropriate parental consents are in place for all minor learners and will provide evidence of such consents on request.

4. Account Registration

4.1 Registration Information

To access most Platform features, you must create an account and provide accurate, complete, and current information, including your first and last name, email address, phone number, and location (province and city).

4.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Keeping your login credentials confidential;
• All activity that occurs under your account;
• Promptly notifying us at security@school.ditshego-ventures.co.za if you believe your account has been compromised.

SCHOOL will never ask for your password via email, phone, or chat.

4.3 One Account Per Person

You may not create more than one personal account. We may terminate duplicate accounts.

5. Platform Services

5.1 Educational Content and Curriculum

The Platform provides curriculum-aligned learning content for South African Grades R to 12, including lessons, past papers, quiz tools, and AI-assisted study support. Content is aligned to the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement ("CAPS") issued by the Department of Basic Education ("DBE").

SCHOOL does not represent or warrant that Platform content replaces formal schooling, guarantees academic outcomes, or constitutes advice from a registered educational professional.

5.2 Past Papers

Past papers sourced from the DBE are made available for educational and study purposes. See the Copyright and Content Policy for details of our relationship with DBE materials.

5.3 AI Study Assistant

The Platform includes an artificial intelligence study assistant powered by third-party AI services. The AI assistant:

• Is a study aid, not a substitute for a qualified teacher or tutor;
• May produce inaccurate or incomplete responses;
• Should not be relied upon for examination-critical decisions without independent verification;
• Does not have access to private examination papers ahead of public release.

5.4 Tutor Marketplace

SCHOOL operates a marketplace connecting learners with independent tutors. See Section 8 for the full tutor marketplace terms.

5.5 Wallet and Credits

The Platform operates a virtual credit wallet denominated in South African Rand (ZAR). See Section 9 for the full wallet terms.

5.6 Bookstore and Equipment

The Platform may offer access to textbooks and educational equipment procurement. Equipment procurement is currently quote-only — no payment for equipment is processed through the Platform.

6. User Content and Conduct

6.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of all content you submit to the Platform ("User Content"), including notes, answers, messages, and profile information.

By submitting User Content, you grant SCHOOL a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, reproduce, display, and transmit that content solely to the extent necessary to operate the Platform and deliver the Services to you.

This licence terminates when you delete the content or close your account, except where the content has been shared with other users, who may retain copies.

6.2 Prohibited Conduct

You may not use the Platform to:

• Share another person's personal information without their consent;
• Impersonate any person or organisation;
• Upload or share content that is defamatory, obscene, harassing, threatening, or discriminatory;
• Upload content that infringes the intellectual property rights of any person;
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to other accounts or Platform systems;
• Reverse engineer, scrape, or copy Platform content beyond personal study use;
• Use the Platform to transmit spam, malware, or other harmful code;
• Circumvent payment or access controls;
• Use the Platform in any way that violates applicable South African law or the law of any jurisdiction in which you are located.

A full list of prohibited uses is set out in the Acceptable Use Policy.

6.3 Enforcement

SCHOOL may suspend or terminate your account, remove content, and take any other action we consider appropriate if you violate these Terms. We have no obligation to monitor content but reserve the right to do so.

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 SCHOOL Platform

All intellectual property in the Platform — including software, design, trademarks, logos, and original content — belongs to SCHOOL or its licensors. Nothing in these Terms transfers any intellectual property rights to you.

You receive a limited, personal, non-transferable, non-sublicensable licence to access and use the Platform for your own educational purposes only.

7.2 CAPS and DBE Content

Curriculum materials derived from the CAPS framework and past papers published by the DBE are owned by the South African Government. SCHOOL uses such materials under the principles of fair use for education and in compliance with the Copyright Act 98 of 1978. See the Copyright and Content Policy for details.

7.3 Third-Party Content

The Platform may include content licensed from third parties. Third-party licences are disclosed in the Copyright and Content Policy.

8. Tutor Marketplace

8.1 Relationship of the Parties

Tutors on SCHOOL are independent service providers. They are not employees, agents, partners, or representatives of SCHOOL. SCHOOL operates as a technology platform and marketplace facilitating connections between learners and tutors.

SCHOOL does not:

• Direct how tutors deliver their services;
• Guarantee the quality, accuracy, or outcomes of tutoring sessions;
• Withhold Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax on tutor earnings;
• Provide tutors with employee benefits of any kind.

Tutors are responsible for their own tax obligations, including income tax and VAT where applicable.

8.2 Session Bookings

Learners may request tutoring sessions through the Platform. Session requests are subject to:

• Tutor availability and acceptance;
• Applicable hourly rates set by the tutor;
• SCHOOL's commission rate (currently 12% of the session fee);
• The cancellation and no-show policies set out in Section 8.4.

8.3 Payment for Sessions

Session fees are processed through the learner's wallet credits. Funds are held by SCHOOL until the session is completed and the applicable dispute window (48 hours) has closed.

8.4 Cancellation and No-Show Policy

8.5 Disputes

Either party may raise a dispute within 48 hours of a session. SCHOOL will review evidence submitted by both parties and make a final determination in its reasonable discretion. SCHOOL's dispute determination is final within the Platform, but does not affect any rights you may have under the Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law.

8.6 Tutor Verification

SCHOOL may require tutors to submit identity and qualification documents. Verification status is displayed on tutor profiles. SCHOOL does not guarantee the accuracy of tutor-supplied credentials and recommends that learners independently verify qualifications for high-stakes academic support.

9. Wallet and Credits

9.1 Wallet Credits

The SCHOOL wallet system operates in South African Rand (ZAR). Credits are purchased at 100 credits = R1.00.

9.2 Purchasing Credits

Credits are purchased through our third-party payment processor, currently Stripe, Inc. By purchasing credits, you agree to Stripe's terms at https://stripe.com/za/legal. Minimum top-up: R0.10. Maximum top-up: R2,000.00 per transaction.

9.3 Non-Cash Nature of Credits

Wallet credits:

• Have no cash value;
• Cannot be transferred between accounts;
• Cannot be exchanged for cash (except where required by the Consumer Protection Act — see the Refund and Credits Policy);
• Expire immediately on account closure.

9.4 Refunds

Refund rights are governed by the Refund and Credits Policy and, where applicable, the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008.

9.5 Recurring Charges

If you enable auto-top-up, you authorise SCHOOL to charge your payment method on a recurring basis. You may cancel auto-top-up at any time through your account settings. Cancellation takes effect for the next scheduled charge.

9.6 Pricing Changes

SCHOOL may change credit pricing, feature costs, or commission rates with 30 days' notice to registered users. Continued use of the Platform after the notice period constitutes acceptance of new pricing.

10. Fees and Taxes

You are responsible for all taxes applicable to your use of the Platform, including VAT where applicable. SCHOOL will issue tax invoices in accordance with the Value-Added Tax Act 89 of 1991 where required.

11. Privacy and Data Protection

SCHOOL processes your personal information in accordance with:

• The Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA");
• The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 ("PAIA");
• The General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 ("GDPR") where applicable to users in the European Economic Area.

Full details are set out in the Privacy Policy.

Your data subject rights include the right to access, correct, object to, and request deletion of your personal information. Contact our Information Officer at information-officer@school.ditshego-ventures.co.za to exercise these rights.

12. Electronic Communications Act Disclosures

In compliance with the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 ("ECTA"):

• Orders and transactions placed through the Platform are processed electronically;
• You will receive an electronic confirmation of each transaction;
• You have the right to rescind an electronic transaction within 7 days of conclusion if the Platform did not comply with Section 43 of ECTA, by notifying us at legal@school.ditshego-ventures.co.za;
• SCHOOL stores all transaction records for a minimum of 5 years.

13. Availability and Service Changes

SCHOOL aims to maintain Platform availability but does not guarantee uninterrupted service. We may:

• Perform scheduled maintenance (with notice where practicable);
• Modify, suspend, or discontinue features with 30 days' notice for material changes;
• Suspend access immediately for security, legal, or technical reasons.

SCHOOL is not liable for losses arising from service interruptions beyond our reasonable control.

14. Warranties and Disclaimers

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY SOUTH AFRICAN LAW:

• SCHOOL makes no warranty that the Platform will meet your specific requirements;
• SCHOOL does not warrant that AI-generated content is accurate, complete, or suitable for examination purposes;
• SCHOOL does not warrant that past paper answers or model solutions are correct;
• Third-party content, links, and integrations are not endorsed by SCHOOL.

Nothing in these Terms excludes any implied warranty or guarantee that cannot be excluded under the Consumer Protection Act or POPIA.

15. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY SOUTH AFRICAN LAW, SCHOOL'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM IS LIMITED TO:

• The amount you paid to SCHOOL in the 12 months preceding the claim; or
• R500, whichever is greater.

SCHOOL is not liable for indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of academic opportunity, loss of data, or loss of revenue.

Nothing in this section limits SCHOOL's liability for:

• Death or personal injury caused by our negligence;
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• Any liability that cannot be limited under the Consumer Protection Act or any other applicable law.

16. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless SCHOOL, its directors, employees, agents, and licensors from any claim, loss, damage, or expense (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform in violation of these Terms;
• Your User Content;
• Your violation of any applicable law or third-party right;
• Any session or transaction between you and a tutor.

17. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

17.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, without regard to conflict of law principles.

17.2 Dispute Resolution

Before commencing any legal proceedings, either party must give the other 30 days' written notice of the dispute and attempt to resolve it in good faith.

If the dispute is not resolved through good-faith negotiation, it shall be referred to mediation administered by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, before litigation.

If mediation fails, disputes shall be resolved in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division (Johannesburg), which has exclusive jurisdiction.

You do not waive any rights you have under the Consumer Protection Act, including the right to approach the National Consumer Tribunal or a consumer court.

17.3 International Users

If you access the Platform from outside South Africa, you do so at your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws. South African law governs the contract regardless of where you access the Platform.

18. Changes to These Terms

SCHOOL may update these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Email to your registered address;
• A notice on the Platform login page; or
• An in-app notification.

If you continue using the Platform after the effective date of the new Terms, you accept them. If you do not agree to the new Terms, you must close your account before the effective date.

19. Termination

19.1 By You

You may close your account at any time through your account settings. Closure does not entitle you to a refund of unused credits except as provided in the Refund and Credits Policy and the Consumer Protection Act.

19.2 By SCHOOL

SCHOOL may suspend or terminate your access immediately if:

• You materially breach these Terms;
• We are required to do so by law or court order;
• You engage in fraudulent activity;
• Continued access poses a risk to other users or the Platform.

Where practicable, we will give notice before termination.

19.3 Effect of Termination

On termination:

• Your licence to use the Platform ends immediately;
• Unused wallet credits are handled per the Refund and Credits Policy;
• Sections 6, 7, 10, 15, 16, 17, and 19.3 survive termination.

20. General

20.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with incorporated policies, constitute the entire agreement between you and SCHOOL regarding the Platform and supersede all prior agreements.

20.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

20.3 No Waiver

Failure to enforce any right under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right.

20.4 Assignment

You may not assign your rights or obligations under these Terms without SCHOOL's written consent. SCHOOL may assign these Terms to any successor entity or acquirer.

20.5 Language

These Terms are written in English. In the event of any translation, the English version prevails.

DITSHEGO VENTURES (Pty) Ltd t/a SCHOOL — 273 Ferguson Crescent, Eersterus, Pretoria, 0022 — legal@school.ditshego-ventures.co.za

Last reviewed: 1 May 2026