Legal Notices
What Vela is, and what it isn't.
Last updated: May 2026
1. Not an Official Application Platform
Vela is a guidance and planning tool. We help learners understand which programmes they may be eligible for and what steps to take. We are not an official application platform for any university, TVET college, SETA, employer, or bursary funder. Applying through Vela's links takes you directly to the official application systems of those institutions — Vela has no role in evaluating or deciding applications.
2. Accuracy of Programme and Funding Information
We verify all programme requirements, application deadlines, bursary criteria, and salary data against authoritative South African sources. Our data is locked annually on 1 July. Despite this process:
- Institutions may change their requirements, fees, or deadlines after our verification date
- Bursary funders may open, close, or amend funding criteria at any time
- Salary ranges are indicative averages from verified labour market sources — actual salaries vary by employer, location, and individual performance
- APS scores are calculated using your self-reported marks — the official NSC result may differ
Always verify critical information directly with the institution or funder before submitting any application. Vela is a starting point, not the final authority.
3. No Guarantee of Admission or Funding
A "Strong fit," "Good fit," or "Stretch" indicator from Vela reflects the match between your profile and published eligibility criteria. It is not a guarantee of admission or an offer of a bursary. Admission and funding decisions are made exclusively by the relevant institution or funder, based on their own processes and criteria which may include factors not visible to Vela (such as the number of applicants, institutional quotas, or interview outcomes).
4. Not Professional Advice
The guidance Vela provides is educational and informational in nature. It is not:
- Legal advice — if you need legal assistance, consult a qualified attorney
- Financial advice — if you need financial planning assistance, consult a registered financial adviser
- Professional career counselling — Vela's interest matching is a structured tool, not a substitute for a qualified school counsellor or educational psychologist
- Medical or psychological advice
5. AI and Technology Limitations
The Vela matching engine uses deterministic logic applied to human-verified data — it does not make probabilistic decisions about your suitability for a career. However, where an AI language model assists with off-flow responses or explanatory text, those outputs may contain errors. See our AI Content Policy for full details. If you receive information that appears incorrect, contact us at hello@velaguide.co.za.
6. Third-Party Links
Vela's action plans and recommendations include links to official institution and funder websites. We do not control these third-party websites, their content, or their availability. A link from Vela is not an endorsement of the linked organisation. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party sites.
7. Timeliness
Information is current as of the "verified date" recorded against each data record. Vela does not continuously monitor institutions or funders for changes in real time. Where we become aware of a material change, we will update our records as quickly as practicable. The 1 July annual data lock means that records are not updated between July and the following February, except for urgent corrections.
8. Website Availability
We aim to keep velaguide.co.za and the WhatsApp guidance service available at all times, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted availability. Scheduled maintenance, BSP outages, or technical issues may cause temporary interruptions. In the event of a prolonged outage, we will communicate via WhatsApp where possible.
9. Contact
If you have identified inaccurate information in your action plan, contact us at hello@velaguide.co.za. We treat accuracy errors as a priority.