Terms of Service & Editorial Policy

Last Updated: 11 February 2026 | Compliance: POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) Consistent

Welcome to zaWise. We provide expert-led digital resources to assist South African citizens in navigating the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant system. By accessing this Site, you agree to these Terms. Our mission is to provide clarity, transparency, and technical tools to simplify your interaction with public information.

1. Transparency: Independence & Non-Affiliation

To ensure total transparency (Trustworthiness), please note: zaWise is a private, independent information portal. We are NOT SASSA.

We are not affiliated with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the Department of Social Development, or any government body. The official government website is sassa.gov.za. Our role is strictly limited to providing educational resources and data-bridging tools to help you access your publicly available status.

2. Our Expertise & Editorial Standards

We strive to be the most authoritative source for SRD guidance. Our content is governed by the following standards:

  • Verification: Our informational guides and payment schedules are cross-referenced with official Government Gazettes, SASSA media statements, and verified social channels.
  • Experience: Our team monitors the SRD ecosystem daily to provide real-world troubleshooting for common issues like "Referred," "Declined," or "Post Office" payment complications.
  • Timeliness: We update our news and status check logic as soon as SASSA modifies its APIs or application protocols.

3. Data Integrity & POPIA Compliance

Because your ID number and phone number are sensitive (YMYL data), we have built our "Status Check" tool with a Zero-Persistence Architecture:

  • ✔ No Permanent Storage: We do not save, log, or store your ID or phone numbers in any database.
  • ✔ Session-Only Processing: Your data is used only to fetch the result from the official database and is destroyed the moment you close the tab or the query finishes.
  • ✔ POPIA Adherence: We handle data in strict accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa.

4. Scope of Service

The Service is intended for personal, non-commercial use. While we provide the tools to check status and understand messages, zaWise cannot:

  • Approve or deny grant applications.
  • Speed up your payment process.
  • Change your banking details on the official SASSA system.
  • Access your private government file beyond what is publicly queryable.

5. Limitation of Liability

Although we aim for 100% accuracy (Expertise), the SRD system is prone to government-side outages and policy shifts. zaWise is not liable for any decisions made by SASSA, any delays in grant payments, or any technical errors stemming from the official government databases. All information is provided "as-is."

6. Intellectual Property

The proprietary logic of our status tool, our unique guide content, and the zaWise brand are protected under South African intellectual property laws. Users may not scrape our content or use our tools for commercial gain without prior written consent.

7. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.