TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. ABOUT THIS POLICY

2. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

3. THE PURPOSE UNDERPINNING DATA COLLECTION

4. THIRD PARTY WEBSITES

5. HOW Investrural COLLECTS YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

6. COOKIES

7. RETENTION OF DATA

8. DISCLOSING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

9. INFORMATION SECURITY

10. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

11. CONSENT OF PROCESSING BY THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS

12. DATA SUBJECT RIGHTS

13. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

14. GENERAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. DEFINITIONS

3. CONTACT DETAILS OF INFORMATION OFFICER

4. INFORMATION REGULATOR’S GUIDE

5. OBJECTIVES OF THIS MANUAL

6. ENTRY POINT FOR REQUESTS

7. AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION

8. INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF POPIA

9. RECORDS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF OTHER LEGISLATION

10. CATEGORIES OF RECORDS HELD AND SUBJECT TO REQUEST

11. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPANY RECORDS

12. ACCESS: PROCEDURE AVAILABLE AND FEES

13. AVAILABILITY OF THIS MANUAL

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. This Manual has been prepared in accordance with section 51 of the Act and aims to facilitate a Request for access to a Record held by a private body that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights. Where a request is made in terms of the Act to a private body, that private body must disclose the information if the requester is able to show that the Record is required for the exercise or protection of any rights, and provided that no grounds of refusal contained in the Act are applicable. PAIA sets out the requisite procedural issues attached to a Request for information.

1.2. Section 51 of the Act obliges private bodies to compile a manual to enable a person to obtain access to information held by such private body and stipulates the minimum requirements that the manual has to comply with.

1.3. This Manual constitutes Investrural Platforms Proprietary Limited’s (“Investrural”) PAIA manual (“Manual”). This Manual is compiled in accordance with section 51 of the Act as amended by the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPIA”), which gives effect to everyone’s Constitutional right to privacy. POPIA promotes the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies, including certain conditions so as to establish minimum requirements for the processing of personal information. POPIA amends certain provisions of PAIA, balancing the need for access to information against the need to ensure the protection of personal information by providing for the establishment of an Information Regulator to exercise certain powers and perform certain duties and functions in terms of POPIA and the Act, providing for the issuing of codes of conduct and providing for the rights of persons regarding unsolicited electronic communications and automated decision making in order to regulate the flow of personal information and to provide for matters concerned therewith.

2. DEFINITIONS

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them hereunder, namely –

2.1. “Act” means the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, as amended from time to time;

2.2. “Company” means Investrural Platforms Proprietary Limited and its affiliates;

2.3. “Information Officer” means the person acting on behalf of the Company and discharging the duties and responsibilities assigned to the head of the Company by the Act. The Information Officer is duly authorised to act as such and such authorisation has been confirmed by the “head” of the Company in writing;

2.4. “Manual” means this manual published in compliance with Section 51 of the Act;

2.5. “Record” means any recorded information, regardless of form or medium, which is in the Possession or under the control of the Company, irrespective of whether or not it was created by the Company;

2.6. “Request” means a request for access to a Record of the Company;

2.7. “Requestor” means any person, including a public body or an official thereof, making a Request for access to a Record of the Company and includes any person acting on behalf of that person; and

2.8. “SAHRC” means the South African Human Rights Commission.

2.9. Unless a contrary intention clearly appears, words signifying–

2.9.1. the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

2.9.2. any one gender includes the other genders and vice versa; and

2.9.3. natural persons include juristic persons.

2.10. Unless otherwise stated, terms defined in the Act shall have the same meaning in this Manual.

3. CONTACT DETAILS OF INFORMATION OFFICER (SECTION 51(1)(a))

3.1. This Manual is published on the Company’s website and is available on request from the Information Officer. The details of the Information Officer are:Name of Private Body: Investrural Platforms Proprietary Limited. 
Designated Information Officer: Gregory Vera
Email address of Information Officer: support@investruralconnectplus.co.za
Postal address: Regus Building, 214 Beyers Naude Drive, Rustenburg, 0299 North West
Street address: Regus Building, 214 Beyers Naude Drive, Rustenburg, 0299 North West
Phone number: +27 11 675 3130

3.2. This Manual is available at Regus Building, 214 Beyers Naude Drive Rustenburg, North West.

4. INFORMATION REGULATOR’S GUIDE

4.1. An official guide has been compiled which contains information to assist a person wishing to exercise a right of access to information in terms of PAIA and POPIA (“Guide”). This Guide is made available by the Information Regulator (established in terms of POPIA). Copies of the Guide are available from the Information Regulator and the Information Officer free of charge. Any request for public inspection of the Guide at the Company’s office or a request for a copy of the Guide from the Information Officer must substantially correspond with Form 1 of Annexure A to Government Notice No. R.757 dated 27 August 2021 2021 promulgated under the PAIA Regulations. Please refer to Annexure C.

4.2. In addition, the Information Regulator of South Africa can be approached at the following address:Physical Address: JD House27 Stiemens StreetBraamfonteinJohannesburg2001

Postal Address: PO Box 31533BraamfonteinJohannesburg2017General enquiries: enquiries@inforegulator.org.zaComplaints: PAIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.zaCompliance: PAIACompliance@inforegulator.org.za

5. OBJECTIVES OF THIS MANUALThe objectives of this Manual are:

5.1. to provide a list of all records held by the Company;

5.2. to set out the requirements with regard to who may request information in terms of the Act as well as the grounds on which a request may be denied;

5.3. to define the manner and form in which a request for information must be submitted; and

5.4. to comply with the additional requirements imposed by POPIA.

6. ENTRY POINT FOR REQUESTS

6.1. The Act provides that a person may only make a request for information, if the information is required for the exercise or protection of a legitimate right.

6.2. Information will therefore not be furnished unless a person provides sufficient particulars to enable the Company to identify the right that the requester is seeking to protect as well as an explanation as to why the requested information is required for the exercise or protection of that right. The exercise of an individual’s rights is subject to justifiable limitations, including the reasonable protection of privacy, commercial confidentiality and effective, efficient and good governance. The Act and the request procedure contained in this Manual may not be used for access to a Record for criminal or civil proceedings, nor should information be requested after the commencement of such proceedings.

6.3. The Information Officer has been delegated with the task of receiving and co-ordinating all Requests for access to Records in terms of the Act, in order to ensure proper compliance with the Act and POPIA.

6.4. The Information Officer will facilitate the liaison with the Company’s legal team on all of these requests.

6.5. All requests in terms of the Act and this Manual must be addressed to the Information Officer using the details in paragraph 3.1 above.

7. AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION

7.1. Information that is obtainable via the Company’s website about the Company is automatically available and need not be formally requested in terms of this Manual.

7.2. The Company’s website is accessible to anyone who has access to the Internet, and the following categories of information are automatically available for inspection, purchase or photocopying:

7.2.1. Company information;

7.2.1.1. brochures;

7.2.1.2. press releases;

7.2.1.3. publications; and

7.2.1.4. various other marketing and promotional material.

8. INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF POPIA

8.1. In terms of POPIA, personal information must be processed for a specified purpose. The purpose for which data is processed by the Company will depend on the nature of the data and the particular data subject. This purpose is ordinarily disclosed, explicitly or implicitly, at the time the data is collected.

8.2. Categories of personal information that may be collected by the Company includes (without limitation):

8.2.1. name and surname;

8.2.2. contact number and email address;

8.2.3. physical address;

8.2.4. identity or passport number;

8.2.5. date of birth;

8.2.6. levy amounts;

8.2.7. bank details;

8.2.8. log files;

8.2.9. cookies and web beacons;

8.2.10. DoubleClick DART Cookies;

8.2.11. information we infer about you based on your interaction with products and services;

8.2.12. device information (for example the type of device you’re using, how you access platforms, your browser or operating system and your Internet Protocol (“IP address”); and

8.2.13. location information.

8.3. The purpose of processing personal information is:

8.3.1. to provide you with information, products or services you request from the Company;

8.3.2. in order to refer you to an appropriate third-party service provider;

8.3.3. to communicate with you;

8.3.4. to provide you with support; and

8.3.5. to provide effective advertising (for example to provide you with news, special offers and general information about other services and events which we offer, that are similar to those that you have already procured or enquired about).

8.4. A description of the categories of data subjects and of the information or categories of information relating thereto:

8.4.1. visitors of the website;

8.4.2. people who make use of the Company’s platform and/or services; and

8.4.3. all data subjects whose personal information is processed by the Company.

8.5. The recipients or categories of recipients to whom the Company may share personal information which is as follows:

8.5.1. we may disclose your personal information to a limited number of our employees and third party service providers (other than those who we refer you to), who interact with you on our behalf;

8.5.2. other parties in response to a legal or regulatory obligation we may have;

8.5.3. other parties when we perform an obligation we have towards you;

8.5.4. other parties in response to legal process or when necessary to conduct or protect our legal rights;

8.5.5. companies that provide services to us. Companies that provide services to us or act on our behalf may have access to information about you. These companies are limited in their ability to use information they receive in the course of providing services to us or you;

8.5.6. third-parties where you provide consent. In some cases, third-parties (often advertisers) may wish to attain information about you in order to promote their products to you, or for whatever other reason. We may share information with third-parties where you provide consent in the form of an explicit opt-in. Before we ask you to opt-in, we will endeavour to provide you with a clear description of what data would be shared with the third-party. Remember that once you have opted in to allow us to send your information to the third-party, we cannot control what they do with your data; therefore, be sure to investigate their privacy policies before providing permission for us to share your information; and

8.5.7. third parties in the course of a business transfer. Where all or a part of our business is merged, sold or reorganised, personal information about you may be shared with the successor entity. The Company will use reasonable measures to help ensure that any successor entity processes personal information in accordance with this manual and our Privacy Policy.

8.6. Planned transborder flows of personal information:The Company might transfer your personal information to places outside of South Africa and store it there, where our suppliers might process it. If this is required, the Company will comply with applicable data privacy laws and its Privacy Policy before effecting the transfer of your personal Information.

8.7. A general description of information security measures to be implemented by the Company:The Company takes extensive information security measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of personal information in our possession. The Company takes appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to ensure that personal information and data remains confidential and secure against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage.

9. RECORDS AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF OTHER LEGISLATION

9.1. Records are kept in accordance with the following legislation to the persons or entities specified in such legislation (the below is not an exhaustive list):

9.1.1. Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997;

9.1.2. Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003;

9.1.3. Close Corporations Act, 1984;

9.1.4. Companies Act, 2008;

9.1.5. Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Health Diseases Act, 1993;

9.1.6. Consumer Protection Act, 2008;

9.1.7. Copyright Act, 1978;

9.1.8. Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002;

9.1.9. Employment Equity Act, 1998;

9.1.10. Financial Markets Act, 2012;

9.1.11. Income Tax Act, 1962;

9.1.12. Labour Relations Act, 1995;

9.1.13. Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993;

9.1.14. Skills Development Act, 1998e

9.1.15. Skills Development Levies Act, 1999;

9.1.16. Trademarks Act, 1993;

9.1.17. Unemployment Contributions Act, 2002;

9.1.18. Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001; and

9.1.19. Value Added Tax Act, 1991.

10. CATEGORIES OF RECORDS HELD AND SUBJECT TO REQUEST

10.1. General information held by the Company, which is public in nature, may be accessed on the Company’s website without a formal request as contemplated by this PAIA Manual. The records which the Company holds and the categories within which the records fall are listed below, as required by section 51(2)(e) of the Act. While the Company holds such records, it is entitled to refuse access in terms of sections 62 and 69 of the Act.

10.2. Statutory and Legal (which is not an exhaustive list):

10.2.1. Statutory registers;

10.2.2. Annual reports;

10.2.3. Statutory records and returns, including incorporation documents, memorandum of incorporation and share register;

10.2.4. Minutes of meetings relating to:

10.2.4.1. the board;

10.2.4.2. the board and statutory committees;

10.2.4.3. the management committees;

10.2.4.4. shareholder’s meetings;

10.2.5. Resolutions taken by the board;

10.2.6. Resolutions taken by the shareholders;

10.2.7. Proxy documentation;

10.2.8. Contractual and legal agreements;

10.2.9. Intellectual property relating to:

10.2.9.1. trademarks certificates;

10.2.9.2. licenses;

10.2.9.3. copyrights and designs;

10.2.9.4. Health and safety records; and

10.2.9.5. Corporate governance policies, procedures and strategies.

10.2.10. Human Resources:

10.2.10.1. HR policies & procedures;

10.2.10.2. Employment equity plans and reports;

10.2.10.3. Skills development plans and reports;

10.2.10.4. Employee records;

10.2.10.5. Benefits and payroll records;

10.2.10.6. IR disciplinary and grievance procedures and hearings, including CCMA records;

10.2.10.7. Union negotiation records;

10.2.10.8. Incentive scheme rules; and

10.2.10.9. Training records.

10.2.11. Administration, Finance and Accounting:

10.2.11.1. Accounting records;

10.2.11.2. Auditor’s reports;

10.2.11.3. Financial reports and statements;

10.2.11.4. Management accounts;

10.2.11.5. Banking details;

10.2.11.6. Tax returns;

10.2.11.7. VAT returns;

10.2.11.8. Policies and procedures;

10.2.11.9. Supplier records; and

10.2.11.10. Donor and sponsorship records.

10.2.12. Retirement Fund:

10.2.12.1. Pension and provident fund rules;

10.2.12.2. Correspondence; and

10.2.12.3. Statutory records and returns.

10.2.13. Insurance:

10.2.13.1. Policies, including coverage, limits and insurers; and

10.2.13.2. Claim records.

10.2.14. Information technology:

10.2.14.1. Hardware;

10.2.14.2. Software packages;

10.2.14.3. Licences;

10.2.14.4. IT policies and procedures; and

10.2.14.5. Operating systems.

10.2.15. Sales, Marketing and Communication Records:

10.2.15.1. Customer records;

10.2.15.2. Credit application forms;

10.2.15.3. Statements of account; and

10.2.15.4. Terms & conditions;

10.2.16. Marketing material and media releases: brochures, newsletters and advertising materials;

10.2.17. Public communication records;

10.2.18. Internal communication;

10.2.19. Performance records;

10.2.20. Visitors records;

10.2.21. Interested party records;

10.2.22. Assets:

10.2.22.1. Land and building register;

10.2.22.2. Fixed assets register;

10.2.22.3. Title deeds; and

10.2.22.4. Leases.

10.2.23. Operational information:

10.2.23.1. This information can be defined as information needed in the day-to-day running of the organization. Examples include(without limitation) internal telephone lists, address lists, company policies, company procedures, human resource manual, administration manual, industry related statistical data, guest database, historical guest histories, guest reservation data, management information reports, property development information such as title deeds, lease agreements, construction contracts and architectural drawings.

11. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPANY RECORDS

11.1. On request, access of the Company records listed above may be granted or refused based on the following considerations:

11.1.1. Disclosure and/or access granted:

11.1.1.1. information which forms part of a public access document; and

11.1.1.2. information which is subject to copyright.

11.1.2. Limited disclosure and/or access granted:Personal information of natural persons that belong to the requestor of that information, or personal information of juristic persons represented by the requestor of that information, as contemplated by section 61 of the Act.

11.1.3. Information which may not be disclosed:

11.1.3.1. information relating to a request after the commencement of criminal or civil proceedings, as contemplated by section 7 of the Act;

11.1.3.2. unreasonable disclosure of personal information of a natural person or a juristic person, as contemplated by section 63(2) of the Act and the Protection of Personal Information Act;

11.1.3.3. information which is likely to harm the commercial or financial interests of a third party, as contemplated by section 64(1)(a) and (b) of the Act;

11.1.3.4. information which is likely to harm the Company or a third party in contract negotiations, as contemplated by section 64(1)(c) of the Act;

11.1.3.5. information which would breach a duty of confidence owed to a third party in terms of an agreement, as contemplated by section 65 of the Act;

11.1.3.6. information which is likely to compromise the safety of individuals or protection of property, as contemplated in section 66 of the Act;

11.1.3.7. legally privileged information, as contemplated by section 67 of the Act;

11.1.3.8. commercial information of a private body, as contemplated by section 68 of the Act; and

11.1.3.9. information which is likely to prejudice research and development information of the Company or a third party, as contemplated by section 69 of the Act.

11.1.4. Information which may not be refused:

11.1.4.1. environmental testing or information which reveals public safety or environmental risks, as contemplated by sections 64(2) and 68(2) of the Act; and

11.1.4.2. disclosure of information which is in the public interest, as contemplated by section 70 of the Act.

12. ACCESS: PROCEDURE AVAILABLE AND FEES

12.1. Completion of the prescribed form

12.1.1. Any request for access to a record in terms of PAIA must substantially correspond with Form 2 of Annexure A to Government Notice No. R.757 dated 27 August 2021 promulgated under the PAIA Regulations and should be specific in terms of the record requested. Please refer to Annexure A.

12.1.2. A request for access to information which does not comply with the formalities as prescribed by the Act will be returned to you.

12.1.3. POPIA provides that a data subject may, upon proof of identity, request the Company to confirm, free of charge, all the information it holds about the data subject and may request access to such information, including information about the identity of third parties who have or have had access to such information.

12.1.4. POPIA also provides that where the data subject is required to pay a fee for services provided to them, the Company must provide the data subject with a written estimate of the payable amount before providing the service and may require that the data subject pays a deposit for all or part of the fee.

12.1.5. Grounds for refusal of the data subject’s request are set out in the Act and set forth in this Manual.

12.1.6. POPIA provides that a data subject may object, at any time, to the processing of personal information by the Company, on reasonable grounds relating to their particular situation, unless legislation provides for such processing. The data subject must complete the prescribed form attached hereto as Annexure E and submit it to the Information Officer at the postal or physical address, facsimile number or electronic mail address set out above.

12.1.7. A data subject may also request the Company to correct or delete personal information about the data subject in its possession or under its control that is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out of date, incomplete, misleading or obtained unlawfully; or destroy or delete a record of personal information about the data subject that the Company is no longer authorised to retain records in terms of POPIA’s retention and restriction of records provisions.

12.1.8. A data subject that wishes to request a correction or deletion of personal information or the destruction or deletion of a record of personal information must submit a request to the Information Officer at the postal or physical address, facsimile number or electronic mail address set out above on the form attached hereto as Annexure F.

12.2. Proof of identity

12.2.1. Proof of identity is required to authenticate your identity and the request. You will, in addition to this prescribed form, be required to submit acceptable proof of identity such as a certified copy of your identity document or other legal forms of identity.

12.2.2. In the event that the Request is made on behalf of another person, the Requestor must submit proof of his or her capacity to make the request on behalf of another person, as set out in section 53(2)(f) of the Act.

12.3. Payment of the prescribed fees

12.3.1. The fees payable are reflected in Annexure B.

12.3.2. Section 54 of the Act entitles the Company to levy a charge or to request a fee to enable it to recover the cost of processing a request and providing access to records. The fees that may be charged are set out in Annexure B of Government Notice No. R.757 dated 27 August 2021 2021 promulgated under the PAIA Regulations. Please refer to Annexure D.

12.3.3. Where a decision to grant a request has been taken, the record will not be disclosed until the necessary fees have been paid in full.

12.4. Timelines for consideration of a request for access

12.4.1. Requests will be processed within 30 (thirty) days, unless the Request contains considerations that are of such a nature that an extension of the time limit is needed.

12.4.2. The Information Officer will inform the requester of the decision, and the fees payable (if applicable) on a form that corresponds substantially with Form 3 of Annexure A to Government Notice No. R.757 dated 27 August 2021 promulgated under the PAIA Regulations.

12.4.3. Should an extension be required, you will be notified, together with reasons explaining why the extension is necessary.

12.5. Remedies available in the event that the Request is refused:

12.5.1. In the event that the Company refuses a request for information, the Requestor has the following remedies available:

12.5.1.1. Internal remedies: The Company does not have an internal appeal procedure. The decision taken by the Information Officer is final. If the request is denied, the Requestor may use the external appeal procedures set out below; or

12.5.1.2. External remedies: A Requestor may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction or the Information Regulator for relief.

13. AVAILABILITY OF THIS MANUAL

Copies of this Manual are available for inspection, free of charge, at the offices of the Company or download the request forms below.

DOWNLOAD FORMS

INVESTRURAL CONNECT+ PLATFORM BY INVESTRURAL PLATFORMS PROPRIETARY LIMITED

PLATFORM TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The InvestRural Connect+ platform (“Platform”) has been established by Investrural Platforms (Pty) Ltd (“Platform Provider”) which is a digital ecosystem designed to connect Consumers, Producers and Partners to empower sustainable rural development, and to facilitate and support the implementation of the InvestRural Master Plan, coordination of socio economic development, value chain and collaboration of Public Private Community Partnership, to accelerate rural transformation and economic inclusion.

For purposes of these terms and conditions, “Users” have been classified according to the role they play in the socio-economic development ecosystem, and are defined and referred to as follows:
“Consumers” means the end-users of this Platform who benefit from public and private investment into socio-economic projects and initiatives identified as such on the Platform, including without limitation, the rural communities, rural users, rural municipalities, government agencies, grant funders, development agencies, traditional leaders, traditional councils, and the InvestRural hubs established for traditional villages;

“Producers” means the Platform users that contribute to the creation and delivery of the Services offered on the Platform, including without limitation, solution providers, technical experts, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, commercial farmers, corporations, service providers, professional institutions, consultants, practitioners, specialists,

community-based organisations, and non-governmental organisations; and

“Partners” means the Platform users that offer complementary expertise and resources to enhance the functionality and reach of the Platform, and to invest their funds, expertise and/or experience to rural transformation projects and initiatives identified as such on the Platform, including without limitation public sector entities (National Treasury, provincial departments, municipalities and other public institutions), private sector companies, local community organisations, community leaders and influencers, religious organisations, educational institutions, financial institutions, experts (agriculture, renewable energy, funding, education and training, water & sanitation, public sector etc.), social enterprises, international development organisations, media and communication partners.
Consumers will identify various favourable or advantageous circumstances, situations, or conditions that can be harnessed or leveraged to improve the economic, social, or environmental well-being of rural communities (“Opportunity/ies”) which have the potential to be converted into rural development projects, development plans, and commercial opportunities that require investment (“Projects”), and such Opportunities or Projects will be promoted on the Platform by Consumers. The Platform seeks to digitally connect and link Consumers to relevant Producers and Partners that have the necessary resources to support development of the Opportunity or Project, and to promote, support, and commercialise investment opportunities to eventuate the Opportunity or Project. Producers or Partners will offer their solutions, services, and expertise that they are capable of investing in Opportunities or Projects or developing Projects to be investment ready on the Platform (hereinafter referred to as a “Solution”).

These Platform terms and conditions (“Platform Terms”) regulate the use of the Platform by Consumers, Producers and Partners, acting in their respective roles as defined above. For purposes of these Platform Terms, any reference to “you”, or “your” shall be construed as referring to the respective user in its role as a Consumer, Producer or Partner, and any reference to “we”, “our” or “us” shall be construed as referring to Investrural Platforms (Pty) Ltd in its role as the Platform Provider.

1. ABOUT THESE PLATFORM TERMS

1.1 Thank you for visiting our Platform. Before you go further, you must read, understand and agree to the terms for using the Platform, which are contained in this document, and our Privacy Policy which can be accessed on our website.
1.2 These Platform Terms apply when you access the Platform for the first time and each time thereafter. They are a binding legal agreement between you and the Platform Provider.
1.3 Separate terms and conditions will apply to Solutions, and you will be required to accept these additional terms before you can register on the Platform and access a specific Opportunity or Project.
1.4 These Platform Terms may be updated from time to time and the most recent version of the Platform Terms will apply to you each time you access the Platform. If you do not agree to be bound by these Platform Terms, do not access or use the Platform.
1.5 Words and terminology are used in these terms exactly as defined. The definitions section can be found at the end of the terms.

2. ACCESS

2.1 During your time on the Platform, you may be required to register with us to continue using the Platform. If you are a natural person, we will require your name, surname and e-mail address for the registration process. If you are a juristic person, we will require your registered company name, registration number, registered physical address, as well as the name and surname of the company’s authorised user or representative, his/her e-mail address, and his/her ID number, and we may require you to upload specific company registration documents and resolutions. We may accept or reject your registration to access the Platform.
2.2 Once you register, your login information may only be used by you and may not be shared with anyone else.
2.3 We may terminate your access to the Platform and suspend your status as a user at any time for any reason. We have the right to change or discontinue (temporarily or permanently) the Platform (or any part of it). We may also limit certain services, features or functions, and we may restrict access to all or parts of the Platform.
2.4 Separate terms and conditions of service apply to specific Solutions. You can read these at the section of this Platform where the relevant Solutions are provided. If there is any difference between these Platform Terms and the specific terms and conditions of any Service (“Solution Terms”), the Solution Terms will apply.
2.5 We will not be liable for any loss or damage that you may incur as a result of action taken in terms of this clause, or liability arising under any Solution Terms.

3. USER CONDUCT AND PROHIBITIONS

3.1 You agree and undertake that you will not-
3.1.1 misuse the Platform;
3.1.2 commit or encourage a criminal offense;
3.1.3 transmit or distribute a virus, trojan, worm, logic bomb or any other material which is malicious, technologically harmful, in breach of confidence or in any way offensive or obscene;
3.1.4 hack into any aspect of the Platform;
3.1.5 corrupt data;
3.1.6 cause annoyance to other users;
3.1.7 infringe upon the rights of any other person’s Intellectual Proprietary rights;
3.1.8 send any unsolicited advertising or promotional material, commonly referred to as “spam”; or
3.1.9 attempt to affect the performance or functionality of any computer facilities of or accessed through the Platform.
3.2 Breaching this provision may constitute a criminal offense and upon becoming aware of such criminal offense, the Platform Provider shall report any such breach and disclose the identity of any person involved in such breach, or suspected of being involved in such breach, to the relevant law enforcement authorities.

4. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOU

4.1 All information you provide, whether during registration or elsewhere on the Platform must be complete, up-to-date and accurate.
4.2 We and any agent acting on our behalf reserve the right to verify any information you have provided at any time.
4.3 You warrant that, if you provide third-party information, it will not breach the third-party’s intellectual property rights or right to confidentiality.

5. CHARGES

5.1 Save as otherwise provided in the Solutions Terms, we do not charge you any fees for using the basic version of our Platform. However, a premium version of the Platform (which includes advanced content, premium features and functionality, and additional services) is available on a subscription-based model, and such subscriptions are payable annually in advance. We may change this or charge other fees (or add features or functions) at our discretion.
5.2 Standard data costs will be charged when you register for the Platform and every time when you access the Platform. These costs are charged by your internet service provider or mobile phone operator. Any questions related to your data costs must be sent to your internet service provider or mobile phone operator.

6. USING THE PLATFORM

When you access this Platform or any Solution, you agree to the following:
6.1 The posting of any defamatory, abusive, profane, offensive, illegal or threatening material is strictly prohibited.
6.2 This Platform is intended to be safe and helpful. This means that everyone is treated equally and with respect, regardless of any defining characteristic. Defining characteristics include religious preferences, race, ethnicity, disability, experience, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, age, and nationality.
6.3 Opinions expressed are the opinions of the user expressing them. The Platform Provider is not responsible for and does not endorse any information or opinion expressed by a user.
6.4 You must treat everyone fairly and equally. You agree to avoid any behaviour that could be construed as discrimination.
6.5 No harassment is allowed on this Platform and you agree that you will not intimidate any other user of the Platform.

7. SECURITY AND AVAILABILITY

7.1 We aim to keep the Platform and associated services available and running. However, all online services suffer occasional disruptions and outages. We will not be liable for a disruption in access to the Platform, regardless of the cause of the disruption.
7.2 You must use and update hardware and software (computer equipment, security upgrades and programs) suitable for this Platform and for any Solutions. If you do not, the Platform may not work properly, which could decrease functionality and prevent your access to the Platform.
7.3 If we offer any software to you on or through our Platform, the licence agreement is between you and the software licensor (owner). We do not warrant that any software is of good quality or suitable for its purpose.
7.4 We apply certain security controls to protect the Platform from unauthorised access. However, the internet is an unsecure public network and there is always a risk that your communications or transactions can be seen, stopped during transmission or changed by third parties. There is also a risk of certain files containing computer viruses, spyware, malware, disabling codes, worms or other devices or defects. By using the Platform, you acknowledge and accept these risks.

8. AUTHORISED USERS

8.1 All authorised users warrant their authority to access and, where applicable, sign up for the Platform and Solutions.
8.2 The authorised user binds the organisation that they represent, to these Platform Terms. An organisation is responsible for the actions of its authorised user/s.
8.3 If you are (or purport to be) an authorised user, you warrant that you have authority and capacity to act on behalf of your organisation and you agree that your organisation will be bound by your actions.
8.4 It is the responsibility of the organisation and/or the authorised user to advise us if any authorised user is no longer authorised to access the Platform and/or represent the organisation.

9. INFORMATION ON THE PLATFORM

9.1 General Information
9.1.1 All information on the Platform is only intended to give you general information about us, our products, services and goals. You should not regard anything on our Platform as an offer, only as an invitation to participate in Projects promoted on our Platform.
9.1.2 We provide all information “as is” and you may not rely on it or treat it as professional or investment advice. You should always discuss any advice with a professional advisor before doing anything based on any information on the Platform.
9.1.3 We do not control information provided by third parties and do not warrant or guarantee that it is correct or suitable for anything.
9.1.4 Any information that is, by its nature, an estimate or a prediction of future performance may not reflect actual events or results and it should not be viewed as a certainty. We cannot be held directly or indirectly responsible for any loss that may result from your reliance on any information on it.
9.2 Newsfeed and Insights
9.2.1 Any newsfeed and insights that we provide on our Platform are sourced from external websites or third-parties, and/or put together by third parties on our behalf, and have been provided for information purposes only.
9.2.2 All current news, market information or data shown on our Platform as live information may be delayed by at least 15 (fifteen) minutes unless we tell you otherwise. You should always update or “refresh” the screen on any device to make sure that you are looking at the latest information.
9.2.3 Unless it is clear from the article or report that we are the original authors, we are not the authors of, nor do we endorse, the articles or reports contained in any newsfeed or insight, and none of the views or opinions expressed in an article or report are ours.
9.2.4 You may not use, aggregate, create a link to, or reproduce any portion of a newsfeed or insight without our prior written consent, and you may not do anything that breaches our rights or the rights of any third party in respect of any news or article in the newsfeed or insight, including the breach or infringement of any copyright which vests in us or any third party under any applicable law.
9.2.5 We are not liable for any loss or damage you may suffer or incur that is in any way related to any article or report published as part of a newsfeed or insight.
9.3 Links to other platforms or websites
9.3.1 This Platform may contain links to other platforms or website with information or content from third parties. Although we try to only link to trustworthy parties or systems, we are not responsible for any third party information. If a link is provided on our Platform to any other information, website, person or business, it does not mean that we have checked or approve of them.
9.3.2 We do not give any warranty about any other platform, website, software or hardware, including their security or performance. You waive any claim you may have against us for any loss or damage you may suffer because you connect to any other platform or website.

10. COMMUNICATION

10.1 You consent to receiving communications from us and the third party service providers on the Solutions you choose.
10.2 You consent to receive contractual notices and/or legal communications from us in an electronic form through the email address you supplied for registration.
10.3 You agree that the Platform Terms, any other agreements, terms and conditions, notices, disclosures and other communications that we provide to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that those communications would satisfy if they were duly executed on paper.
10.4 We will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by any delay in the delivery of or failure to deliver any email or other communication for any reason.
10.5 Communications made by email to the Platform Provider or on the Platform or via a third party service provider will not constitute legal notice to the Platform Provider or any of its officers, employees, agents or representatives in any situation where notice to the Platform Provider is required by contract or any law or regulation. Legal notice to the Platform Provider must be in writing, marked for the attention of Head: Mr MK Dube, CEO of InvestRural Connect+ , served by hand at Regus Building, 214 Beyers Naude Drive, Rustenburg, North West, South Africa during ordinary business hours from Monday to Friday, with a copy delivered by email to legal@investruralconnectplus.co.za.

11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

11.1 We, or our licensors, own all Intellectual Property rights in our Platform, Solutions, where applicable, and all content published on them. Even if any content on our Platform is not confidential information or if there are no Intellectual Property rights in it, it is (or is deemed to be) owned by us (or by an identified third party) and you have no right to it unless you have entered into an agreement with us, or that third party, that expressly provides that you have such rights.
11.2 The trademarks on our Platform (whether registered or unregistered) are our trademarks or trademarks belonging to third-parties. You may not use our trademarks and any of our Intellectual Property, or that of a third-party, without our prior written consent.
11.3 For purposes of this clause 11, “Intellectual Property” means works of copyright, trade marks (statutory and common law), patentable inventions, patents, protectable design subject matter, designs and domain names including applications, registrations and unregistered forms of any of these, all other intellectual property rights (registered or unregistered) and the right to apply for all or any of these.
11.4 User Generated Content is content uploaded by users as opposed to content already available on the Platform. We do not check user uploaded/created content for appropriateness, violations of copyright, trademarks, or other rights. The user uploading/creating such content is solely responsible for it and the consequences of using, disclosing, storing, or transmitting it. By uploading to, or creating content on, the Platform, you warrant that you own or have obtained all rights, licenses, consents, permissions, power and/or authority, necessary to use and/or upload such content. You further warrant that such content on the Platform does not and shall not (a) infringe or violate any intellectual property, data protection or publicity rights of any third party; (b) violate any applicable laws; and (c) violate any third party’s policies and terms of service. We invite you to report violations together with proof of ownership as appropriate to complaints@investruralconnectplus.co.za. Content that has been reported may be removed or disabled.

12. LICENCE AND USAGE

12.1 Your access to this Platform and acceptance of these Platform Terms means you agree to provide the Platform Provider with a non-exclusive, fully paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual and worldwide licence to access, reproduce and use all information provided, including any third-party material, which may include analysis and promotion.
12.2 If you provide us with any comments, suggestions or other feedback regarding the Platform (collective, the “Feedback”), you will be deemed to have granted us an exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid up, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide ownership rights in the Feedback. We are under no obligation to implement any Feedback we may receive from users.
12.3 Specific licence conditions may apply to Solutions and will be contained in the solution terms and conditions.

13. COLLECTING, SHARING AND USING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

13.1 We treat personal information according to our Privacy Policy . This privacy statement is aligned with the law on collecting, sharing, using and protecting personal information.
13.2 Personal information is information about a person or entity (known as a juristic person). This includes information about their:
13.2.1 name if it appears with other personal information relating to them or if the disclosure of their name itself would reveal information about them;
13.2.2 telephone number, email, postal or physical address, location;
13.2.3 race, nationality, ethnic or social origin, colour, culture, language, birth;
13.2.4 marital status, sexual orientation, gender, sex, pregnancy;
13.2.5 age; biometric information;
13.2.6 physical or mental health, well-being, disability, medical history;
13.2.7 religion, conscience, belief, personal opinions, views or preferences and the views or opinions of another individual about them;
13.2.8 education, financial, or employment history, account-related information;
13.2.9 criminal history;
13.2.10 any identifying number, symbol, any online identifier; any other particular assignment to them; and/or
13.2.11 correspondence sent by them that is implicitly or explicitly private or confidential, or further correspondence that would reveal the contents of the original correspondence.
13.3 You must keep your personal information private and secure
13.3.1 You must look after your personal information at all times. You are responsible if you give any personal information to an unauthorised third party who compromises your personal information.
13.3.2 We are not responsible for any losses or damage that you experience if you give your passwords, PIN numbers, one-time passwords (OTPs), and other access codes to an unauthorised third-party. This includes your use of third-party payment methods that promise to make payments immediately.
13.4 About processing information
13.4.1 Processing information means any operation or activity (automated or not) concerning personal information, including:
13.4.1.1 receiving, collecting, collating, organising, recording, storing, retrieving;
13.4.1.2 using, consulting;
13.4.1.3 disseminating, transmitting, distributing or making available in any other form;
13.4.1.4 linking, merging, modifying, altering, updating; and/or
13.4.1.5 blocking, destroying, erasing, degrading.
13.4.2 You give your consent to us and the third party service providers on the Platform, to collect your personal information (which may include your first name, surname, email address, physical address, identity number, telephone and bank account number (if necessary)) from you and where lawful and reasonable, from public sources for credit, fraud and compliance purposes, and to process it for the purposes set out below.
13.4.3 If you give us personal information about or on behalf of another person (including, but not limited to, account signatories, shareholders, principal executive officers, trustees and beneficiaries), you confirm that you are authorised to: (a) give us the personal information; (b) consent on their behalf to the processing of their personal information, specifically any cross-border transfer of personal information into and outside the country where the Solutions are provided; and (c) receive any privacy notices on their behalf.
13.5 Your consent for processing personal information:
You consent to us processing your personal information:
13.5.1 in respect of Solutions offered to you, or the Solutions offered by you on the Platform pursuant to the Solution Terms;
13.5.2 to carry out statistical and other analyses to identify potential markets and trends, evaluate and improve our Platform (this includes improving existing and developing new Solutions and Projects);
13.5.3 in countries outside the country where the Solutions are provided. These countries may not have the same data protection laws as the country where the Solutions are provided. Where we can, we will ask the receiving party to agree to our Privacy Policy;
13.5.4 by sharing your personal information with Consumers, Producers or Partners, and any community or forums, and with our third-party service providers. If you are providing a Solution on our Platform, you will be required to agree to our Privacy Policy if you need access to any personal information to carry out your obligations; and
13.5.5 by sharing your personal information with relevant government institutions, provincial departments and municipalities, InvestRural and its partners.
13.6 Your personal information will only be processed for the purposes set out in this clause 13.

14. COOKIES

14.1 The Platform may use cookies and tracking technology depending on the features offered and as may be necessary from time to time.
14.2 A ‘cookie’ in this context refers to a file that is stored on your hard drive and which contains information about the preferences that you may have expressed during previous use of the Platform.
14.3 Cookies and tracking technology are useful for gathering information such as browser types, operating systems, tracking the number of visitors and/or users on the Platform, and understanding how visitors and/or users use the Platform.
14.4 Cookies help us personalise your online experience. If you wish to reject the use of cookies, you should adjust the preferences in your browser settings.
14.5 Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personal information while you are browsing the Platform, and personal information cannot be collected via cookies and other tracking technology. However, if you have previously provided or exposed personally identifiable information, cookies may be tied to such information.

15. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS

15.1 The Solutions on our Platform are offered by third-party service providers. The Solutions are offered by Producers or Partners by subscribing to the Platform, or by using their existing platform which is then linked to our Platform through Application Programming Interfaces (“APIs”) which is a set of functions and procedures that allow the creation of applications that access the features of or data from an operating system, application or other service.
15.2 You expressly agree that your information may be shared with a third party.
15.3 You acknowledge that the Platform Provider provides the Platform on which the third-party service providers offer Solutions to the users, and accordingly the Platform Provider is not responsible or liable for the actions and omissions of the third-party service providers.

16. HYPERLINKS

16.1 Internal
We have put links from certain provisions in our Platform Terms to other information that may apply to you (hyperlinks). They are found in words that are in blue and underlined. You must read any links that apply to you and that reference a policy or an agreement because they form part of these Platform Terms. We will not require you to provide personal information or your personal banking information via these hyperlinks.
16.2 External
16.2.1 You may not establish a hyperlink, frame, metatag or similar reference, whether electronically or otherwise to our Platform without our prior written consent, which consent is at our sole discretion.
16.2.2 If you breach these provisions, we may take immediate legal action without advance notice to you.

17. DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS CAREFULLY. THEY LIMIT OUR LIABILITY TO YOU.

17.1 Your use of the Platform depends on factors beyond our control, such as the network coverage or availability of your mobile network operator. We are not responsible and cannot be blamed for any loss you may suffer if you cannot access the Platform because of this.
17.2 We will make every effort to ensure that there are no defects in the Platform. Should there be any defects with the Platform, these should be brought to our attention.
17.3 Information on the Platform is provided “as is” and we will not be responsible for any loss that you may suffer if you rely on it.
17.4 We are not legally responsible for any loss or damages you may suffer relating to your use of the Platform. This includes, without limitation, any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, whether arising out of contract, statute, delict or otherwise and regardless of whether we were expressly advised of the possibility of such loss or damage (“Losses”).
17.5 We will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including consequential loss or indirect loss) arising out of or in connection with any use of or reliance on the Platform, any Solution, and any API and for any loss that arises from, among other things:
17.5.1 any technical or other problem (interruption, malfunction, downtime or other failure) that affects the Platform, our system, a third-party system or any part of any database for any reason;
17.5.2 any defect, fault, malfunction and/or delay in the device that you use to access the Platform;
17.5.3 your use of any device, including any lack of attention to your surroundings resulting from such use;
17.5.4 any third party content available via the Platform;
17.5.5 any losses or damages arising from or in connection with the information and/or Solutions provided via the Platform;
17.5.6 any personal information or other data that is directly or indirectly lost or damaged due to technical problems with the Platform, power failures, unlawful acts (such as data theft), any harmful computer program or virus, or your own negligence;
17.5.7 any interruption, malfunction, downtime or other failure of services provided by third parties, including, without limitation, telecommunication service providers, mobile device operators, internet service providers, Wi-Fi providers, electricity suppliers, local authorities and certification authorities; and
17.5.8 any event over which we have no direct control.

18. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

18.1 You must comply with all applicable laws.
18.2 You must not use the Platform to assist or benefit any sanctioned entity or be involved in any prohibited activities. Prohibited activities include:
18.2.1 any activities that do not comply with applicable laws;
18.2.2 terrorist activities or the financing of these activities;
18.2.3 illegal activities such as money laundering, bribery, tax evasion, corruption or fraud, including a payment that improperly advantages any person;
18.2.4 any activities that sanctions apply to. Sanctions are measures imposed or restrictions set by a sanctioning body, including diplomatic, travel, trade or financial sanctions or embargoes.
18.3 Sanctioning bodies include the European Union (EU), Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry (France) (MINEFI), the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of Treasury of the United States of America (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and any other sanctioning body that we recognise.
18.4 You must not engage with entities that are sanctioned.
18.5 A sanctioned entity is person, organisation or country to which sanctions apply or that is listed on a list published by a sanctioning body (sanctions list), including:
18.5.1 a country that is on a sanctions list, its ministries, departments and agencies and any other governmental organisations;
18.5.2 any person who owns or controls a juristic person (for example, a company, trust or organisation) that is on the sanctions list; and
18.5.3 any person who is owned by or controlled by a juristic person that is on the sanctions list.
18.5.4 In this context:
18.5.4.1 “owns” means holding any percentage of ownership or beneficial interest; and
18.5.4.2 “controls” means the ability to control the business or policy of the juristic person, whether directly or indirectly, through the voting of shares, by appointing directors or by any other means.
18.6 You warrant that you are not a sanctioned entity or being investigated for any activities relating to sanctions. If you are being investigated for any activities relating to sanctions, you must inform us immediately and in writing.
18.7 If we know or suspect that you are in breach of this clause or that sanctions may be imposed on you, we may immediately:
18.7.1 cancel or suspend access to the Platform or any Solution; and
18.7.2 cancel this agreement and any other relationship we have with you.
18.8 We are not responsible to you for any loss you suffer if we cancel your access to the Platform, a Solution and any other relationship we have with you.

19. IF YOU BREACH THESE TERMS

We may prevent you from using the Platform or any Solution offered on the Platform if you breach these Platform Terms, and fail to rectify such breach within five (5) calendar days after notifying you of such breach. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in this clause will prevent us from taking legal steps against you, such as applying to court for an interdict (ban) or other order against you.

20. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

20.1 Any dispute over your use of this Platform or these Platform Terms will be decided by arbitration, unless either of us applies for an interdict or other urgent legal action. Any disputes arising from the Solutions offered on the Platform will be dealt with between you and the relevant service provider pursuant to the Solution Terms.
20.2 The arbitration will be at the offices of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (“AFSA”) in Johannesburg in South Africa under its rules and South African law and in English. Unless both you and we agree otherwise, the arbitration will be conducted on an urgent basis in terms of the Rules.
20.3 Either of us may have the arbitration award made an order of court. Both of us will keep the evidence and any award in the arbitration confidential. The arbitrator may give default judgement if any party fails to make submissions on the date they are due or fail to appear at the arbitration or both.

21. JURISDICTION

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa and you agree to the jurisdiction of South Africa.

22. COMPLAINTS RESOLUTION

22.1 If you have a complaint/query about the Platform, you can contact us at: complaints@investruralconnectplus.co.za.
22.2 We will try to resolve queries as quickly as possible, but there may be delays beyond our control because we sometimes have to rely on third parties.

23. GENERAL

23.1 These Platform Terms contain the entire agreement between you and us. No addition to or variation, amendment or consensual cancellation of any part of these Platform Terms or any suspension of any right under these Platform Terms will be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and accepted by both you and us.
23.2 Certain provisions will survive termination of this agreement. These provisions include ownership, breach, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, confidentiality and limitations of liability. Our failure to enforce or to require the performance at any time of any of the provisions of these Platform Terms (including the provisions of this clause) must not be construed as a waiver of such provision and will not affect either the validity of these Platform Terms or any part thereof or any right we have to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.
23.3 If any clause in these Platform Terms is invalid or illegal or cannot be enforced, the other clauses will still be valid. You may not assign your rights and obligations under these Platform Terms, entirely or partially, to any third party without our prior written consent.

24. INTERPRETATION

In these terms:
24.1 Singular words include the plural and vice versa, and a reference to the masculine gender includes the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa.
24.2 The word “including”, and its other grammatical forms will not limit the general effect of the words that precede them and will be construed without any limitation.
24.3 Any construct in law that a contract be interpreted against the party drafting it, will not apply.
24.4 The headings to the clauses in these terms are inserted for reference purposes only and do not influence the meaning or interpretation of those clauses.

25. DEFINITIONS

25.1 Platform Provider or we, our or us means Investrural Platforms Proprietary Limited.
25.2 you and your refer to any user, whether a Consumer, Producer or Partner, and the entity that the user represents on the Platform.
25.3 agreement means these Platform Terms and any agreement entered into between you and the Platform Provider in connection with the Platform where applicable.
25.4 applicable law means all laws of all relevant countries that apply to you at any given time.
25.5 authority means the authority that an organisation provides to its employees and that allows these employees to access and use the content of the Platform and the Solutions offered on the Platform.
25.6 confidential information means proprietary information that is by its nature regarded in law as confidential and that:
25.6.1 is designated as confidential;
25.6.2 is agreed in writing by you and us to be confidential; and/or
25.6.3 you or we know or ought to know is confidential.
25.7 It does not include information that is or may become public knowledge other than by breach of this agreement or any other confidentiality obligation.
25.8 consequential loss means any special or indirect loss that may be recoverable at law including:
25.8.1 any loss of income or revenue;
25.8.2 any loss of opportunity or goodwill;
25.8.3 any loss of profits;
25.8.4 any loss of anticipated savings or business;
25.8.5 any loss of value of any equipment;
25.8.6 punitive damages; and
25.8.7 indirect damages.
25.9 content includes information, data, documents, pages and images.
25.10 law means all applicable laws, legislation, regulations, statutes, by-laws, consents and other laws of any relevant governmental authority and any other instrument having the force of law that may be issued and in force from time to time in any relevant jurisdiction relating to the Platform and the activities performed on it and/or to any Solution or API accessed through it.
25.11 loss means loss, damage, cost or expense (to any person or property) including consequential loss.
25.12 Solution means services, expertise, or products that are offered by Producers, Partners, or any third party service providers on or through the Platform which may be viewed, accessed, used, purchased or subscribed to in respect of the Opportunities or Projects.
25.13 user means any person accessing the Platform and includes a registered user.

+ What is InvestRural Connect+?

InvestRural® Connect+ serves as a digital ecosystem designed to connect stakeholders for empowering sustainable rural development. It facilitates and supports the implementation of the InvestRural Master Plan, coordination of the socio-economic development value chain and fostering collaboration within the Public Private Community Partnership framework. The Platform aims to bridge the gap between Rural Communities, Solution Providers, Investors, Government Agencies and many more stakeholders.

+ Who can use InvestRural® Connect+?

InvestRural® Connect+ is designed for a wide range of users, including rural communities, municipalities, project owners, investors, solution providers, government agencies, and development organizations. Anyone with an interest in rural development and investment opportunities can benefit from the platform.

+ How does InvestRural® Connect+ facilitate project matching

InvestRural® Connect+ uses advanced matchmaking algorithms and user profiles to connect project owners with potential investors and solution providers. Users can create detailed project profiles, specify their investment preferences, and search for opportunities that match their criteria. The platform also offers networking and communication tools to facilitate connections and collaborations.

+ What resources are available on InvestRural® Connect+?

InvestRural® Connect+ provides a comprehensive directory of resources for rural development, including funding opportunities, technical assistance providers, best practices, and success stories. Users can access these resources to support their projects, learn from others’ experiences, and stay informed about the latest developments in rural development.

+ Is InvestRural® Connect+ secure?

Yes, InvestRural® Connect+ prioritizes security and data privacy. The platform uses encryption, secure authentication methods, and other industry-standard security measures to protect user data and ensure a safe online environment. Additionally, InvestRural® Connect+ complies with relevant data protection regulations to safeguard user information.

+ How can I become part of InvestRural® Connect+?

To use InvestRural® Connect+, simply click on “Sign In/Sign Up” found in the main menu bar or on the “How To” page on the InvestRural® Connect+ website. Once registered, you can explore projects, connect with other users, access resources, and start engaging in rural development activities. Whether you’re a project owner looking for investment opportunities or an investor seeking to support rural initiatives, InvestRural® Connect+ offers a wealth of opportunities to get involved. For more information on how to Sign In/Sign Up, please email: info@investruralconnectplus.co.za

+ How can I recover my password if I’ve forgotten it?

If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset your password by following these easy steps:

1. Go to the “Sign In/Sign Up” page, click on “Forgot Password” below the login fields.
2. Enter your email address associated with your InvestRural® Connect+ account. Please make sure to enter the correct email address.
3. After entering your email address, a 6-digit verification code will be sent to your email inbox. Check your email as well as your spam/junk folder for this code.
4. Once you receive the verification code in your email, return to the password recovery page on InvestRural® Connect+. Enter the 6-digit code in the space provided.
5. After entering the verification code, you’ll be prompted to set a new password for your account. Enter your desired password in the designated field.
6. Retype the new password in the confirmation field to ensure it matches the one you entered earlier.
7. Once you’ve entered and confirmed your new password, click on the “Recover Password” button to submit your changes.
8. You should receive a confirmation message indicating that your password has been successfully recovered. You can now use your new password to log in to InvestRural® Connect+.
9. If you encounter any issues during the password recovery process, please contact our support team for assistance on: info@investruralconnectplus.co.zat@investruralconnectplus.co.za

+ Who do I contact if I experience technical issues?

For any technical issues experienced on the InvestRural® Connect+ website, please visit our “Contact Us“page. Our dedicated support team is ready to assist you and ensure a seamless experience on InvestRural® Connect+.

For any technical issues experienced during “Sign Up/Sign In” on the Platform, or post signing in on the Platform, please click on the Help Icon at the bottom right corner of your screen and follow the prompts. Alternatively, please email: info@investruralconnectplus.co.za

+ What Features can I expect on the InvestRural® Connect+ Platform?

1. Project Matching: The platform facilitates matchmaking between producers of rural projects (such as communities and municipalities) and potential investors and solution providers. This feature helps connect project owners with individuals or organizations interested in investing in rural development initiatives.
2. Deal Room: InvestRural® Connect+ offers a secure deal room or data room where investors can access detailed information about potential projects. This feature enables investors to review project proposals, financial projections, and other relevant documents to make informed investment decisions.
3. Community Engagement: The platform includes features that promote community engagement and participation in rural development activities. Users can join discussions, share ideas, and collaborate with other stakeholders to support community-driven initiatives.
4. Resource Directory: InvestRural® Connect+ provides a comprehensive directory of resources for rural development, including funding opportunities, technical assistance providers, and relevant government programs. This feature helps users access the resources they need to support their rural projects.
5. User Profiles: Users can create profiles on the platform to showcase their projects, expertise, and investment interests. This feature allows users to network with other stakeholders and establish connections that can lead to potential collaborations or partnerships.
6. Secure Communication: InvestRural® Connect+ ensures secure communication between users through encrypted messaging and document sharing functionalities. This feature protects sensitive information and fosters trust among platform users.
7. Reporting and Analytics: The platform offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing users to track project performance, monitor investment trends, and generate insights into rural development activities. This feature helps users make data-driven decisions and optimize their investment strategies.

+ What Benefits do InvestRural® Connect+ offer?

To find out more about the Benefits InvestRural® Connect+ offers, please visit the “Benefits” Page on our website

+ What types of rural projects are listed on InvestRural® Connect+?

InvestRural® Connect+ hosts a diverse range of rural projects, including infrastructure development, enterprise development jobs, environmental sustainability, economic inclusion, sustainable agriculture, quality education and training, affordable health service, local economic development, and more. The platform aims to cover a broad spectrum of opportunities that contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas.

+ Is InvestRural® Connect+ open to international investors?

Yes, InvestRural® Connect+ is a global platform, welcoming investors from around the world. Whether you are a local investor looking to support rural projects in your region or an international investor seeking opportunities abroad, our platform provides a diverse array of options.

+ How does the connection process work between investors and project owners?

InvestRural® Connect+ offers a Deal Room as one of the features that allows investors to connect with project owners directly through the platform. This facilitates smooth communication, enabling both parties to discuss investment terms, project details, and any other relevant information.

+ What fees are associated with using InvestRural® Connect+?

Creating an account and browsing projects on InvestRural® Connect+ is free. However, fees may apply for specific services such as accessing premium features. For more information on fees please visit our “Contact Us” page. Our dedicated support team is ready to assist you and ensure a seamless experience on InvestRural® Connect+.

+ How can I get support or assistance if I have questions about InvestRural® Connect+?

For any inquiries, technical support, or general questions, please visit our “Contact Us” page. Our dedicated support team is ready to assist you and ensure a seamless experience on InvestRural® Connect+.