Mahala Loyalty Programme (Pty) Ltd (Registration No. 2001/030145/07) is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No. 21961).
Membership & Eligibility
Eligibility: Membership is open strictly to natural persons aged 18 years or older who possess the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract. Legal entities (companies, trusts, etc.) are excluded from joining.
Application Approval: MAHALA reserves the right to accept or decline any membership application at its sole discretion.
Exclusivity: Membership is strictly non-transferable, registered in one individual's name, and limited to one profile per person.
Profile Management: Members can manage, update, and secure their profiles via the MAHALA App, mobile site, official website, or email. Accessing account data requires verification via standard login credentials or multi-factor security protocols.
Fee Structure & Payment Authorisation
Annual Fee: An annual fee of R365 is payable to join the MAHALA Loyalty Programme.
Activation & Onboarding: On successful sign-up, you will receive your welcome communication within 24 hours to enjoy the loyalty benefits.
Continuous Payment Authority (CPA): By providing bank card details, the member grants MAHALA a continuous mandate to automatically charge the nominated card monthly. This authority persists until the membership is legally cancelled and all arrears are paid.
December Billing Adjustment: Due to shortened corporate banking periods and early holiday salary cycles, MAHALA may process the December subscription fee up to 5 days earlier than the standard scheduled date. Members will receive an advance notification via SMS, Email, or WhatsApp at least 5 days prior.
Failed Payments & Retries: If a payment is declined, the member is responsible for any associated bank rejection penalties. MAHALA reserves the right to retry the card collection up to three (3) times within a 7-day window.
Suspension: If collections fail after maximum retries, access to the platform and rewards will be suspended. The member remains legally liable for outstanding fees accrued during periods when the service was active.
Core Loyalty Benefits
The loyalty subscription grants access to commercial rewards negotiated across a partner network of participating shops. The programme comprises three main reward structures:
| Benefit Type | Operational Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Instant Discounts | An immediate percentage or Rand value reduction applied directly to a purchase at the point of sale. |
| Points Accrual | Members pay the full price, and a percentage rebate is allocated as points to their e-Wallet (where 1 point = R0.10). |
| Digital Coupons | Random or targeted digital discount codes generated via the App/mobi-site to be scanned by the cashier at checkout. |
Reward Rules & Limits
Usage Restrictions: The MAHALA profile/card functions exclusively as a loyalty mechanism; it cannot be used as a credit, debit, or transactional banking card.
Earning Caps: Members are restricted to a maximum of 5 reward transactions per merchant within any 24-hour cycle.
Verification Checks: Transactions exceeding R500 may be flagged for security auditing. In such instances, members must upload a clear digital photo of the retail till slip to the mobile platform for points verification.
Redemption Threshold: A minimum accumulated balance of 1,000 points in the e-Wallet is required before a member can initiate an in-store points cash-out or redemption.
Non-Transferability: Points and coupons are tied to the individual profile. They hold zero monetary value outside the MAHALA ecosystem and cannot be transferred, combined, or ceded to another loyalty scheme.
Inactivity Forfeiture: If a member account becomes unpaid or inactive, a monthly administration fee will be deducted directly from the accumulated e-Wallet points. Once the points balance hits zero, the account will automatically terminate.
Digital Coupons & Media Content
Coupon Validity: Each digital coupon code is single-use, non-transferable, and cannot be combined with other concurrent store promotions unless stated otherwise in specific campaign terms.
System Failures: MAHALA is not liable if a coupon cannot be processed due to external merchant system downtimes. However, if a coupon product is completely out of stock, MAHALA will make reasonable efforts to source the item within 48 hours at the promotional rate.
Media & Intellectual Property: Members are strictly prohibited from publishing or sharing videos, photos, or graphic content featuring retailer logos or official till slips on public social media channels without prior written sign-off from MAHALA. Failure to remove unauthorised content upon request will result in immediate membership suspension.
Merchant Networks & Third-Party Liabilities
Network Fluctuations: MAHALA reserves the right to add or remove partner merchants at any time without prior individual notice. Up-to-date vendor lists are maintained on the official app and website. Benefits earned at a merchant prior to their removal remain valid.
Product Liability: MAHALA functions solely as the loyalty platform provider. It bears no liability for the quality, safety, availability, or delivery of goods and services provided by partner stores. All customer disputes, defective products, or service complaints must be raised directly with the merchant involved.
Rebate Defaults: If a partner merchant defaults on their commercial agreements or fails to fund a negotiated rebate, MAHALA carries no liability to pay out those points. Unpaid points will be reversed, and affected members will be notified.
Promotional Competitions
Entry Requirements: Competitions are open to South African residents aged 18 or older, excluding MAHALA staff, direct corporate affiliates, and immediate family members.
Campaign Discretion: MAHALA reserves the right to amend, extend, or terminate competitions instantly in the event of force majeure, system hacks, or legal breaches outside its rational control.
Publicity Rights: By accepting a promotional prize, winners consent to MAHALA using their names and photographs for marketing and social media exposure, unless the winner explicitly opts out in writing at the time of prize notification.
Consumer Protection Act (CPA) & Cancellation
Cancellation Process: In strict alignment with Section 14 of the Consumer Protection Act, members may cancel their subscription at any time by providing 20 business days' written notice via email (info@mahala.co.za) or by contacting the helpline.
Advance Collections: Subscription fees already collected for the current billing cycle prior to a cancellation request are non-refundable.
Corporate Termination: MAHALA reserves the right to cancel an individual's membership for any operational reason by issuing 20 business days' written notice, or immediately without notice if a member commits fraud or breaches these terms.
Price Adjustments: MAHALA may adjust monthly membership fees by issuing a minimum of 20 business days' written notice to members before the new pricing takes effect.
Privacy, Data Security & POPIA Compliance
Data Processing Mandate: MAHALA collects and processes personal and financial data in strict compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Data is utilized solely for account administration, payment processing, fraud prevention, and targeted reward marketing.
Marketing Opt-Ins: Members must explicitly choose to receive promotional newsletters, SMS offers, or phone campaigns. Opt-out requests can be executed at any time via the App, website profile, email, or official WhatsApp service channel.
Financial Data Security: In compliance with global PCI-DSS security frameworks, MAHALA will never request full bank card numbers, CVV codes, or banking pins via email, text, or WhatsApp. Card data updates must be performed exclusively through authorized, encrypted payment portals. MAHALA disclaims all liability for losses resulting from phishing or members sharing financial secrets over unsecure channels.
Legal Indemnities & Governing Law
Limitation of Liability: To the maximum extent permitted by South African law, MAHALA and its officers shall not be held liable for indirect, special, or consequential damages arising from the use of the platform. Total corporate liability is strictly capped at the cumulative value of membership fees paid by the specific claimant.
Insurance Backing: For consumer protection, MAHALA maintains personal indemnity and fidelity insurance coverage up to the value of R2,000,000 (Policy Number: K/FIN/11/0693 - Underwritten by AON).
Jurisdiction: These terms are governed, interpreted, and enforced exclusively under the laws of the Republic of South Africa, and are subject to the jurisdiction of the South African courts.
Official Helpdesk Contact Channels:
- ShareCall Telephone: 0860 MAHALA (0860 62 42 52)
- Official WhatsApp Platform: 064 900 5976
- General Support Email: info@mahala.co.za
- Corporate Website: www.mahala.co.za | Mobile Portal: https://mahala.mobi