1. Introduction
Welcome to the Affiliate Programme of The Business Directory (“we”, “us”, or “our”), operated at www.thebusinessdirectory.co.za. By registering as an affiliate, you (“Affiliate”) agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions in their entirety. Please read them carefully before participating.
2. Eligibility
To join our Affiliate Programme, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have a valid South African bank account for payment purposes.
- Provide accurate and complete registration information.
- Comply with all applicable South African laws and regulations.
We reserve the right to accept or decline any affiliate application at our sole discretion.
3. Commission Structure
Affiliates earn a commission of 25% of the net sale value for each qualifying referral that results in a completed, paid transaction on The Business Directory.
A qualifying referral is defined as a new customer who:
- Clicks your unique affiliate referral link.
- Completes a purchase within 60 days of clicking the link (the “Cookie Window”).
- Has not previously transacted on The Business Directory.
Commissions are calculated on the net amount paid, excluding any applicable taxes, fees, or discounts.
4. Cookie & Tracking Window
Each affiliate is assigned a unique tracking link. When a visitor clicks your link, a tracking cookie is placed on their browser for a period of 60 days. If the visitor completes a qualifying purchase within this window, the sale will be attributed to your account.
We cannot guarantee tracking accuracy in cases where a visitor clears their cookies, uses a different device or browser, or uses ad-blocking software. No commission will be paid for sales that cannot be accurately attributed.
5. Payments
Commissions are paid monthly, on or before the 15th of the following month (e.g. January commissions are paid by 15 February), subject to the following conditions:
- Your account balance must meet or exceed the minimum payout threshold of R250 (South African Rand).
- Balances below R250 will roll over to the following month until the threshold is reached.
- Payments are made by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to your registered South African bank account only.
- You are responsible for ensuring your banking details on file are accurate and up to date. We accept no liability for payments made to incorrect accounts provided by the affiliate.
We reserve the right to delay payment where there is a reasonable suspicion of fraudulent activity or a dispute in progress.
6. Refunds & Reversals
If a customer who was referred by you requests and receives a refund, the corresponding commission will be reversed from your affiliate account balance. If the commission has already been paid out, the reversed amount will be deducted from your next payout.
We reserve the right to hold commissions for a reasonable period to account for potential refunds before releasing payment.
7. Prohibited Activities
As an affiliate, you agree NOT to engage in any of the following:
- Bidding on The Business Directory’s brand name, domain, or any variations thereof in paid search advertising (including but not limited to Google Ads, Meta Ads, or any similar platforms).
- Generating fraudulent clicks, leads, or transactions through any automated, deceptive, or artificial means.
- Misrepresenting your relationship with The Business Directory or making false claims about our products or services.
- Using spam, unsolicited email, or any marketing methods that violate applicable laws, including POPIA and the CPA.
- Placing affiliate links on websites containing unlawful, harmful, defamatory, or adult content.
- Creating fake social media profiles or websites to generate referrals.
Violation of any of the above may result in immediate termination of your affiliate account and forfeiture of any unpaid commissions.
8. Intellectual Property
We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use our approved marketing materials, logos, and brand assets solely for the purpose of promoting The Business Directory through your affiliate links. You may not alter, modify, or misuse any of our brand assets. This licence may be revoked at any time.
9. Relationship of Parties
You are an independent contractor. Nothing in these Terms & Conditions creates an employment, partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between you and The Business Directory. You are solely responsible for your own tax obligations arising from commissions received.
10. Termination
Either party may terminate participation in the Affiliate Programme at any time by providing written notice. We reserve the right to terminate your account immediately and without notice in cases of:
- Breach of these Terms & Conditions.
- Fraudulent or deceptive activity.
- Actions that damage the reputation of The Business Directory.
Upon termination, any pending commissions that are legitimate and meet the minimum threshold will be paid out in the next scheduled payment cycle, unless forfeited due to breach.
11. Modifications to This Agreement
We reserve the right to modify these Terms & Conditions at any time. Changes will be communicated via email or by posting the updated terms on our website. Continued participation in the Affiliate Programme after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
12. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Business Directory shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your participation in the Affiliate Programme. Our total liability to you shall not exceed the total commissions paid to you in the three months preceding the claim.
13. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes arising from this agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.
14. Contact Us
For any queries relating to the Affiliate Programme, please contact us via the contact details available at www.thebusinessdirectory.co.za.