1. Acceptance of these Terms

These Terms and Conditions govern your access to and use of connect.laccares.co.za, including the creation and management of user accounts, fundraising Connections, donations and related services.

By accessing the website, registering an account, submitting a Connection or making a donation, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.

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

2. About LAC Cares

LAC Cares is a South African non-profit company and registered Public Benefit Organisation that supports community-development and charitable initiatives.

The Connect platform allows approved users and ambassadors to create fundraising initiatives known as “Connections” and enables members of the public to support those initiatives.

Contact details:

Email: info@laccares.co.za
Telephone: 012 940 4398
Website: connect.laccares.co.za
Physical address: 410 Rigel Avenue, Erasmusrand, Pretoria

3. Important definitions

For purposes of these Terms:

“Ambassador” means an approved person who creates, promotes or manages a Connection.

“Beneficiary” means the school, community, organisation, project or group intended to benefit from a Connection.

“Connection” means a fundraising initiative or campaign displayed through the platform.

“Donation” means a voluntary contribution made without receiving goods or services of equivalent value in return.

“LAC Cares,” “we,” “us” or “our” means LAC Cares and its authorised representatives.

“User,” “you” or “your” means any person who accesses or uses the website.

4. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into an agreement to register an account, submit a Connection or make a donation.

A person under 18 may only use the website with the involvement and permission of a parent or legal guardian.

Where you act for a school, company, trust, organisation or other entity, you confirm that you have authority to act on its behalf.

5. User accounts

Certain website features require an account.

When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information;
• Keep your information updated;
• Protect your login credentials;
• Not allow unauthorised persons to use your account;
• Notify LAC Cares promptly of suspected unauthorised activity; and
• Accept responsibility for activity performed through your account, except where caused by LAC Cares’ unlawful conduct.

LAC Cares may require email verification, identity verification or supporting information before activating an account or granting access to particular features.

We may reject, suspend or close an account where information is false, incomplete, misleading or cannot reasonably be verified.

6. Submitting a Connection

Submitting a Connection does not guarantee that it will be approved or published.

LAC Cares may:

• Review and verify submitted information;
• Request supporting documents;
• Contact the relevant school, beneficiary or organisation;
• Edit minor formatting or language errors;
• Require changes before publication;
• Reject a proposed Connection;
• Pause or remove a Connection; or
• Close a Connection where continued publication is no longer appropriate.

LAC Cares is not required to provide detailed reasons for every rejection, suspension or removal, although we will aim to act reasonably.

7. Ambassador responsibilities

An Ambassador must:

• Provide accurate, honest and current information;
• Have permission to represent the named beneficiary;
• Use donations and platform functionality only for legitimate charitable purposes;
• Respond reasonably to verification requests;
• Provide accurate updates when circumstances materially change;
• Avoid exaggerating, misrepresenting or fabricating a beneficiary’s circumstances;
• Respect the dignity and privacy of beneficiaries;
• Keep account credentials secure;
• Comply with applicable laws; and
• Cooperate with LAC Cares in investigating complaints, errors or suspected misuse.

An Ambassador may not represent that they personally own donations made through the platform or that they have an unrestricted right to withdraw or control donated funds.

Unless LAC Cares expressly agrees otherwise in writing, donations made through the platform are received and administered by LAC Cares.

8. Content involving children

Users must protect the dignity, privacy and safety of children appearing in Connection content.

Before uploading a photograph, video, story or other information involving a child, the user must have:

• Appropriate written consent from the child’s parent or legal guardian; or
• Proper written authority from the relevant school or organisation confirming that the content may lawfully be published.

Users may not publish a child’s identity number, home address, personal contact details, medical information or other sensitive identifying information.

Content must not exploit, shame, endanger or expose a child to avoidable risk.

LAC Cares may remove content involving children without prior notice where consent or lawful authority is uncertain or where removal is reasonably necessary to protect a child.

9. Accuracy of Connection information

LAC Cares takes reasonable steps to review Connections but cannot independently guarantee every statement, photograph, estimate, target or update supplied by an Ambassador or third party.

Fundraising targets are estimates and do not constitute guarantees that:

• The target will be reached;
• A specified number of beneficiaries will be assisted;
• A project will be completed by a particular date;
• Costs will remain unchanged; or
• A particular result will be achieved.

Users should contact LAC Cares if they believe that information on a Connection is inaccurate or misleading.

10. Donations

Donations are voluntary and are generally final once successfully processed.

By making a donation, you confirm that:

• You are authorised to use the selected payment method;
• The funds are lawfully available to you;
• Your payment information is accurate;
• The donation is made voluntarily;
• You are not receiving goods or services of equivalent value in return; and
• The transaction is not connected to fraud, money laundering or unlawful activity.

Payments may be processed by an independent payment service provider. The payment service provider may apply its own terms, security procedures and transaction rules.

A donation is only complete once payment has been successfully authorised and confirmed.

11. Allocation of donations

Unless expressly stated otherwise, donations made through the platform are donations to LAC Cares that are intended to support the selected Connection.

LAC Cares will take reasonable steps to apply donations toward the selected Connection and its stated charitable purpose.

Where a Connection:

• Receives more than its target;
• Becomes impossible or impractical to complete;
• Is cancelled;
• No longer requires the full amount;
• Is found to contain inaccurate or misleading information;
• Cannot lawfully receive the intended support; or
• Presents a risk to beneficiaries or LAC Cares,

LAC Cares may apply some or all remaining funds to a substantially similar charitable purpose, another suitable beneficiary or another LAC Cares initiative.

This discretion will be exercised in good faith and consistently with LAC Cares’ charitable objectives and legal obligations.

12. Transaction charges

Payment gateways, banks and other providers may charge transaction or processing fees.

Any applicable treatment of such fees will be disclosed through the payment process, donation records or relevant Connection information where reasonably practicable.

The displayed gross donation total may differ from the net amount available after unavoidable third-party charges.

13. Anonymous donations

A donor may be offered the option to appear publicly as anonymous.

An anonymous selection affects public display only. LAC Cares, its payment provider, auditors and relevant authorities may still process or access the donor’s information where necessary for payment, recordkeeping, fraud prevention, tax or legal compliance.

14. Refunds and payment errors

Because donations are voluntarily made for charitable purposes, donations are not ordinarily refundable.

LAC Cares may consider a refund where:

• A duplicate donation was processed;
• The amount was entered incorrectly;
• The payment was unauthorised or fraudulent;
• A technical error occurred; or
• A refund is required by law.

Requests must be submitted promptly to info@laccares.co.za and include sufficient transaction information.

Refunds remain subject to verification, available funds, applicable law and the rules of the payment service provider. Transaction fees already charged by a third party may not be recoverable.

A change of mind does not automatically entitle a donor to a refund.

15. Section 18A certificates

LAC Cares may issue a Section 18A certificate for a qualifying donation where permitted by its SARS approval and applicable tax legislation.

A certificate is not guaranteed merely because a payment was made through the website.

A certificate may only be issued where:

• The donation qualifies under the applicable legislation;
• LAC Cares is authorised to issue a certificate for the relevant activity;
• Payment has been successfully received;
• The donor provides all required information; and
• The information provided is accurate and capable of verification.

Payments made in exchange for goods, services, advertising, sponsorship benefits or other material consideration may not qualify as donations for Section 18A purposes.

The donor remains responsible for obtaining independent tax advice and determining whether and how a deduction may be claimed.

LAC Cares does not guarantee that SARS will accept any deduction claimed by a donor.

16. Public donation information

Where a donor does not select anonymity, their name and donation message may be displayed on the relevant Connection.

LAC Cares may display fundraising totals, progress percentages and recent-donation activity.

Public displays may be delayed and may not immediately reflect refunds, failed transactions, manual donations or payment-provider processing times.

17. Licence to use submitted content

You retain ownership of original content you submit, where applicable.

By uploading or submitting content, you grant LAC Cares a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to host, reproduce, edit, resize, format, publish, display, distribute and promote that content for purposes connected with:

• Operating the platform;
• Promoting the relevant Connection;
• Reporting on LAC Cares’ work;
• Communicating impact;
• Fundraising;
• Social-media publication; and
• LAC Cares’ charitable activities.

This licence continues for as long as reasonably necessary for those purposes, including legitimate historical, audit and impact-reporting records.

You confirm that:

• You own the content or have permission to use it;
• Publication will not infringe another person’s rights;
• Required permissions and consents have been obtained;
• The content is accurate and not misleading; and
• The content complies with these Terms and applicable law.

18. Prohibited conduct

You may not use the website to:

• Commit fraud or misrepresentation;
• Create a false or misleading Connection;
• Impersonate another person or organisation;
• Collect donations for an unauthorised purpose;
• Publish content without permission;
• Exploit or endanger children or vulnerable persons;
• Upload unlawful, abusive, defamatory, discriminatory, obscene or harmful material;
• Infringe intellectual-property or privacy rights;
• Introduce viruses, malware or harmful code;
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access;
• Interfere with the website or another user’s account;
• Scrape or harvest personal information;
• Circumvent security or payment controls;
• Send unsolicited commercial messages;
• Use automated systems without written permission; or
• Engage in conduct that may damage LAC Cares, a beneficiary or the public.

19. Intellectual property

The website, design, branding, text, graphics, software, databases and other material owned or licensed by LAC Cares are protected by intellectual-property laws.

Except as permitted by law or expressly authorised in writing, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, license or commercially exploit this material.

You may share publicly available Connection links and approved promotional material for legitimate fundraising purposes.

20. Third-party services and links

The website may use or link to third-party services, including payment gateways, social-media services, authentication services and external websites.

LAC Cares does not control every third-party service and is not responsible for its availability, content, terms, privacy practices or security.

Your use of a third-party service may be subject to separate terms.

21. Website availability

LAC Cares aims to keep the website available and accurate but does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

We may suspend, restrict or change any part of the website for:

• Maintenance;
• Security;
• Technical updates;
• Legal compliance;
• Fraud prevention;
• Service-provider failures; or
• Operational reasons.

We are not liable merely because the website or a particular feature is temporarily unavailable.

22. Suspension and termination

LAC Cares may suspend or terminate an account or Connection where we reasonably believe that:

• These Terms have been breached;
• Information is false or misleading;
• A user lacks authority to represent a beneficiary;
• Donations or content may be unlawful;
• Fraud or misuse is suspected;
• A beneficiary may be placed at risk;
• Continued use may harm LAC Cares or another person; or
• Suspension is required by law or a service provider.

Where appropriate, we may preserve information, freeze further activity and refer the matter to relevant authorities.

23. Disclaimer

The website and its content are provided on an “as available” basis.

To the extent permitted by law, LAC Cares does not warrant that:

• Every Connection will reach its goal;
• Every project will achieve a particular outcome;
• All third-party information is free from error;
• The website will always be available;
• Every donation will qualify for a tax deduction; or
• Third-party services will operate without interruption.

Nothing on the website constitutes legal, financial, tax or professional advice.

24. Limitation of liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

To the extent permitted by law, LAC Cares will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss arising from:

• Use or inability to use the website;
• Reliance on user-submitted information;
• Failure of a third-party payment or technology provider;
• Unauthorised access caused by a user’s failure to secure their account;
• External websites or services;
• A Connection failing to reach its target; or
• Changes to project costs, timing or circumstances beyond LAC Cares’ reasonable control.

This clause does not protect LAC Cares from liability arising from gross negligence, intentional misconduct or another liability that may not legally be limited.

25. Indemnity

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify LAC Cares against claims, losses, costs or liabilities resulting from:

• Content you submit;
• Your unlawful use of the website;
• Your breach of these Terms;
• Your infringement of another person’s rights;
• Your lack of authority to represent a beneficiary; or
• Your failure to obtain required permissions or consent.

This clause will not apply to the extent that a loss was caused by LAC Cares’ own unlawful conduct.

26. Privacy

Personal information is processed in accordance with the LAC Cares Privacy Policy and applicable law.

By using the website, you acknowledge that you have read the Privacy Policy.

27. Electronic communications

You consent to receiving electronic communications relating to:

• Your account;
• Donations;
• Connections;
• Section 18A certificates;
• Security;
• Service changes; and
• These Terms.

Electronic notices sent to your registered email address or displayed through the website will be regarded as received in accordance with applicable law.

28. Changes to these Terms

LAC Cares may update these Terms to reflect operational, legal or service changes.

The updated Terms will be published on the website with a revised effective date.

Material changes may be communicated through email or a prominent website notice. Continued use after the effective date of an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

29. Governing law

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

Subject to any applicable consumer rights, the South African courts will have jurisdiction over disputes arising from these Terms or use of the website.

30. General provisions

If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

Failure by LAC Cares to enforce a provision immediately does not waive its right to enforce it later.

You may not transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without written approval from LAC Cares.

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any specific written terms applicable to a Connection or service, constitute the agreement between you and LAC Cares concerning use of the website.

31. Contact us

Questions, complaints, refund requests and legal notices may be sent to:

LAC Cares
Email: info@laccares.co.za
Telephone: 012 940 4398