Terms & Conditions

1. Who we are

Melkbos Buzz is a local guide, community publication and small creative/advertising service for Melkbosstrand, Duynefontein, Van Riebeeckstrand and surrounds. It is operated by Marissa Pelser as a sole proprietor. Melkbos Buzz is not a registered company and has no company registration number (not applicable — sole proprietor).

2. Accepting these terms

By using melkbosbuzz.co.za, submitting information to us, or booking any service, you agree to these terms. If you book on behalf of a business, you confirm you are authorised to do so. If you do not agree, please do not use the website or services.

3. Local and editorial information

We publish local information — businesses, events, stories and community notices — in good faith and try to verify it before publishing. Details such as prices, times, venues and availability are set by third parties and can change without notice. Please confirm important details directly with the business or organiser before relying on them.

Editorial content reflects Melkbos Buzz’s own judgement. We may edit, shorten, decline or remove content at our discretion, including to keep the publication accurate, fair and useful to readers.

4. Paid advertising and featured content

Some listings, placements, features and stories are paid for or form part of an advertising package. Where content is paid for, we may identify it as a partner, sponsored or featured placement. Paid placement does not mean Melkbos Buzz endorses, guarantees or has independently verified every claim made by the advertiser.

We keep editorial control over how content appears on our platforms so that the publication stays consistent and trustworthy.

5. No guaranteed results

We work hard to give advertisers useful visibility, but we cannot and do not guarantee any particular number of views, reach, followers, engagement, enquiries, leads, bookings or sales. Results depend on many factors outside our control, including platform algorithms, timing, the offer itself and customer behaviour.

6. Social media management services

Where we manage social media for a client, we act on the client’s behalf using the access, information and materials the client provides. The client remains the owner of their accounts and is responsible for keeping login details secure and for complying with each platform’s own terms. We are not responsible for platform changes, restrictions, account suspensions, outages or algorithm changes.

7. Client responsibility for accuracy

Advertisers and clients are responsible for the factual accuracy and lawfulness of everything they provide or approve — including prices, specials, claims, qualifications, contact details and trading hours — and for complying with the Consumer Protection Act and any other law that applies to their business.

8. Client approvals

Where a service includes a draft or proof, we will share it for approval before publication where practical. Once you approve content (in writing, by email or by WhatsApp), you accept responsibility for it. Changes requested after approval or publication may be treated as additional work.

9. Supplied logos, photos, video and text

When you send us logos, photographs, video, artwork or text, you confirm that you own them or have permission to use them, and that their use will not infringe anyone else’s rights (including copyright, trade marks and the privacy of people shown). You give Melkbos Buzz a non-exclusive licence to use, resize, crop and format that material for the agreed service and for reasonable promotion of that service.

Ownership of your supplied material stays with you. Unless otherwise agreed, final designs we create for you may be used by you for your business once paid for; Melkbos Buzz may show them in its portfolio.

10. Community submissions

Community notices, story tips, event details and other submissions are welcome. By submitting, you confirm the information is accurate to the best of your knowledge and that you may share it, and you allow us to edit and publish it. We are not obliged to publish every submission.

11. Events and What’s On

Event listings are provided for information. Events are run by their organisers, not by Melkbos Buzz, unless we clearly state otherwise. Tickets, bookings, age restrictions, refunds, safety and changes are the organiser’s responsibility. Listings are removed from the diary automatically once they have passed.

12. Magazine content and deadlines

Magazine placements are subject to published booking and artwork deadlines. If artwork, information or approvals arrive after the deadline, we may be unable to include the placement in that issue; see the Advertising & Cancellation Policy for how this is handled. Page positions are allocated by Melkbos Buzz unless a specific position has been agreed in writing.

13. Community and charitable causes

From time to time we give visibility to local charities, rescues and community causes. Unless we expressly state otherwise, Melkbos Buzz does not collect, hold or handle donations: any donation goes directly to the organisation concerned, and you should satisfy yourself about that organisation before giving.

14. Pricing and payments

Prices are shown in South African rand as displayed at the time of booking. Prices may change, but a confirmed and paid booking keeps its agreed price for the agreed period.

Payments may be made by EFT or through third-party payment providers such as Yoco. Those providers process your payment under their own terms and privacy policies; Melkbos Buzz does not see or store your full card details. Work normally begins once payment has been received and confirmed — payment is confirmed manually and is never assumed.

15. Cancellations and refunds

16. Renewals

Packages run for the period you choose (for example 3, 6 or 12 months, or monthly for social media). They do not renew automatically and you will not be charged again unless you expressly agree to a renewal. We may contact you before the end of a period to ask whether you would like to continue.

17. Competitions and giveaways

Any competition or giveaway will state its own rules, closing date, prize and how winners are chosen. Prizes supplied by sponsors are the sponsor’s responsibility. Prizes are not exchangeable for cash unless stated, and winners may be asked to share their name publicly.

18. Comments and community conduct

Please keep comments and messages on our pages respectful. We may hide or remove content, and block users, where content is abusive, discriminatory, defamatory, misleading, spam, unlawful or unfair to others. Views expressed by members of the public are their own.

19. Third-party websites and links

We link to businesses, organisers, ticketing sites, payment providers and social platforms. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content, availability, products or privacy practices.

20. Melkbos Buzz intellectual property

The Melkbos Buzz name, logo, bee mark, website design, magazine design and original written content belong to Melkbos Buzz. You may share links and short quotes with credit, but please do not copy, republish or use our branding commercially without written permission.

21. Privacy and POPIA

22. Website availability

We aim to keep the website available and accurate, but it may occasionally be unavailable, slow or contain errors because of maintenance, hosting or third-party services. We may change or remove features at any time.

23. Limitation of liability

To the extent the law allows, Melkbos Buzz is not liable for indirect or consequential loss (such as lost profits or business opportunities), or for loss caused by third parties, events outside our reasonable control, or reliance on information that businesses or organisers supplied. Where we are liable in connection with a paid service, our liability is limited to the amount you paid for that service.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any liability or consumer right that cannot be excluded or limited under South African law, including under the Consumer Protection Act.

24. Complaints and corrections

If something we published is wrong, or you are unhappy with a service, please tell us by email or WhatsApp. We will look into it promptly, correct factual errors where appropriate, and try to resolve complaints fairly. If we cannot resolve a consumer complaint, you may approach the National Consumer Commission or another appropriate body.

25. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa, and South African courts have jurisdiction.

26. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page with its updated date. Changes do not affect bookings already confirmed and paid for, unless the law requires otherwise.