Terms of Service
What you're agreeing to.
Last updated: May 2026
1. Introduction
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Vela guidance platform, including the website at velaguide.co.za and the WhatsApp guidance service, operated by Vela Technologies PTY LTD, Registration Number [To be confirmed upon CIPC registration], a private company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa ("Vela", "we", "us").
By using the website, joining the waitlist, or sending a message to the Vela WhatsApp number, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the service.
2. ECTA Supplier Disclosures
As required by Section 43 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA):
- Full legal name: Vela Technologies PTY LTD
- Legal status: Private Company (PTY LTD)
- Registration number: [To be confirmed upon CIPC registration]
- Physical address: [To be confirmed — Cape Town, South Africa]
- Email address: hello@velaguide.co.za
- Website: velaguide.co.za
3. Eligibility
The Vela WhatsApp guidance service is designed for South African students and school leavers planning what comes after school. You may use the service if you are:
- A learner in Grade 10, 11, or 12 in South Africa; or
- A parent or guardian accessing the service on behalf of a learner; or
- A teacher, counsellor, or institutional partner accessing the service for educational purposes
Learners under 18 must have the consent of a parent or guardian before using the WhatsApp guidance product. By confirming consent in the WhatsApp flow, you represent that this consent has been obtained.
4. Description of Service
Vela is a guidance tool. We provide:
- An automated APS calculation based on the marks you provide
- Programme matches drawn from our database of verified South African universities, TVET colleges, and trade routes
- Funding opportunity matching against your academic and financial profile
- A personalised action plan with application deadlines
- Deadline reminders via WhatsApp
Vela is not an official application platform. We do not submit applications on your behalf (except as part of the R99 Full support tier, where explicitly agreed). We do not guarantee admission to any programme or award of any bursary. All final decisions rest with institutions and funders.
The service is delivered via WhatsApp. Your use of WhatsApp is also governed by WhatsApp's own Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Vela is not affiliated with Meta Platforms or WhatsApp Inc.
5. Accuracy of Information
We maintain a database of programme requirements, application deadlines, bursary criteria, and salary data drawn from authoritative South African sources. We update this data on an annual cycle, with a data lock on 1 July each year.
Despite our verification process, programme requirements, application windows, and funding criteria can change. Official sources are always authoritative. You must verify all information with the relevant institution or funder before acting on it. Vela accepts no liability for changes made by institutions or funders after our verification date.
6. Paid Tiers and Payment
Vela offers free and paid guidance tiers. Paid tiers are processed via PayFast, a South African payment service provider. By selecting a paid tier you agree to pay the applicable fee at the rate shown at the time of purchase.
| Tier | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Free | R0 | Top route matches, APS calculation, NSFAS flag, one urgent deadline, shareable summary card |
| One path in full | R29 | Full university/diploma guidance — interest ranking, career paths, salary data, all bursaries with deadlines, 5-step action plan, fit indicators, what-if options, deadline reminders, PDF report |
| Both paths | R49 | One path in full plus paid apprenticeship and trades route matching, employer intake windows, stipend ranges, side-by-side pathway comparison |
| Full support | R99 | Everything in Both paths, plus a family-shareable PDF report, document readiness checklist, and application tracking for up to 5 institutions |
| Covered by your school | R0 (learner) | Full Both paths access, sponsored by a school, funder or CSI partner. Eligibility is assessed automatically based on your financial profile. |
These are founding learner rates for the 2026 pilot season and will be reviewed before January 2027.
Electronic transactions and cooling-off
Under ECTA Section 44, consumers generally have a right to cancel electronic transactions within 7 days. For digital products that are immediately and fully delivered with the consumer's consent — such as a action plan generated and delivered within the WhatsApp session — the cooling-off right may not apply per ECTA Section 44(2). If you have a concern about a payment, contact us at hello@velaguide.co.za and we will resolve it reasonably.
7. Intellectual Property
All content, methodology, software, branding, and design on velaguide.co.za and within the Vela WhatsApp service are owned by or licensed to Vela Technologies PTY LTD and protected by the Copyright Act 98 of 1978 (as amended). You may not reproduce, distribute, reverse-engineer, or create derivative works from any part of the service without written permission.
Your personal information and the action plan generated for you belong to you. You may download, share, and use your action plan for personal educational purposes.
8. Prohibited Conduct
You may not:
- Use the service for any purpose other than personal educational guidance
- Provide false information to obtain a action plan (e.g., inflated marks)
- Attempt to scrape, reverse-engineer, or automate access to the service
- Use the service to collect personal information about other learners without their consent
- Resell, sublicense, or commercialise any output from the service without written permission
- Introduce malicious code, conduct denial-of-service attacks, or interfere with the service's operation
9. Disclaimer of Warranties
The service is provided "as is" and "as available." To the maximum extent permitted by applicable South African law, Vela makes no warranty — express or implied — that the service will be error-free, uninterrupted, or that any specific guidance outcome will result from using the service.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any rights you have under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Vela's total liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with the service — whether in contract, delict, or otherwise — is limited to the amount you paid for the tier that gave rise to the claim, or R100, whichever is greater.
Vela is not liable for: decisions made by institutions or funders; changes to programme requirements or deadlines after our data verification date; loss of data caused by factors outside our control; or any indirect, consequential, or special loss.
Nothing in these Terms limits Vela's liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot lawfully be limited.
11. Consumer Rights
If you are a consumer under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, these Terms do not limit your statutory rights. You have the right to fair, honest, and transparent dealing. If you believe Vela has treated you unfairly, you may contact the National Consumer Commission:
- Website: www.thencc.org.za
- Email: complaints@thencc.org.za
12. Suspension and Termination
We may suspend or terminate your access to the service if you breach these Terms, engage in fraudulent conduct, or misuse the service. Termination does not affect any rights or obligations that arose before termination. If you have paid for a tier and we terminate your access without cause, we will refund the unused portion of your payment.
13. Amendments
We may update these Terms as the product or legal environment changes. Material changes will be communicated via the website with reasonable notice. Continued use of the service after notice of a change constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.
14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally will be submitted to the jurisdiction of the South African courts. We encourage you to contact us first — most issues can be resolved quickly by emailing hello@velaguide.co.za.
15. Contact
Legal enquiries and Terms questions: hello@velaguide.co.za