Legal
Terms of Service
Effective: 20 May 2026 · Governing law: Republic of South Africa
1. Who We Are
Galactica Marketplace (Pty) Ltd ("Galactica", "we", "us", "our") operates an online membership network and marketplace platform that connects verified adult members with participating cannabis and botanical wellness stores, and independent delivery contractors. Our registered offices are in South Africa.
Galactica acts solely as a technology intermediary and marketplace agent. We are not the seller, supplier, or distributor of any products listed on the platform, and we are not an employer of any driver or store owner.
Registered users of the platform are members of the Galactica network. Membership grants access to browse participating stores and request fulfilment of available products. The terms "member", "customer", and "buyer" are used interchangeably throughout these terms and refer to the same role.
2. Eligibility
By creating an account or using this platform you confirm that:
- You are 18 years of age or older.
- You are a resident of or physically located in the Republic of South Africa at the time of each transaction.
- Your use of the platform complies with all applicable South African laws, including the Medicines and Related Substances Act, the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, and any relevant provincial or municipal by-laws.
- You have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts.
We verify age via South African ID number (13-digit). Providing a false ID number is a criminal offence under the Identification Act 68 of 1997 and may result in immediate account termination and referral to law enforcement.
3. Marketplace Model — No Liability for Transactions
All fulfilment transactions on this platform — whether referred to as orders, purchases, or member benefit requests — are directly between the member and the participating store. Galactica is not a party to these contracts. Specifically:
- Product liability rests solely with the store that lists and sells the product. Galactica makes no warranty as to the quality, safety, potency, accuracy of description, or legality of any product.
- Delivery liability rests solely with the driver who accepts and executes the delivery. Drivers are independent contractors, not employees or agents of Galactica.
- Payment disputes are between the buyer and the store owner. Galactica does not hold, process, or control funds — all payments are made via direct EFT from buyer to store, or in cash to the driver.
- Galactica receives a platform commission invoiced separately to store owners. This commission is for access to the platform and technology services, not for any product or delivery.
4. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by South African law:
- Galactica's total aggregate liability to any user for any claim arising from use of the platform shall not exceed the platform commission earned on the specific transaction giving rise to the claim.
- Galactica is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind, including loss of profits, loss of data, personal injury, property damage, or product liability.
- Galactica does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service. Planned and unplanned maintenance windows may occur.
- Galactica is not responsible for any third-party links, services, or platforms accessed through the Galactica platform.
Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any liability that cannot be excluded by law.
5. Payments
Galactica facilitates a bank transfer (EFT) and cash-only payment environment. Third-party card processors are not used for cannabis transactions in accordance with SA banking guidelines.
EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer)
Buyers transfer funds directly to the store's bank account using the order number as reference. Stores verify receipt and confirm orders. Galactica has no visibility into, and takes no responsibility for, the actual transfer of funds.
Cash on Delivery
Available to ID-verified members only. Cash is paid to the driver on delivery. The driver collects on behalf of the store. Galactica is not responsible for cash handling disputes.
FICA Compliance
Orders totalling R5,000 or more are subject to a mandatory compliance hold under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 (FICA). Such orders cannot be fulfilled until a Galactica compliance officer completes the required due diligence. This process typically takes 1–2 business days. Galactica is not liable for any delays caused by FICA review.
Section A — Members / Customers / Patients
6. Customer Obligations
- You may only purchase products for your own personal, private use in quantities consistent with personal use as defined by South African law.
- You must not resell, redistribute, or supply products purchased through Galactica to any third party.
- You are responsible for ensuring that the products you order are lawful for you to possess in your jurisdiction.
- You must provide accurate delivery information. Galactica and store owners are not liable for non-delivery caused by incorrect address details.
- You must be present at the delivery address to receive age-restricted goods. Delivery may be refused if the recipient appears to be under 18.
7. Returns and Refunds
Galactica does not process refunds. All return and refund queries are between you and the store owner directly, subject to the store's individual policy. Contact the store via in-app chat within 24 hours of delivery for any product concerns.
Galactica may, at its sole discretion, mediate disputes between customers and stores, but is under no obligation to do so and is not liable for the outcome.
Section B — Store Owners
8. Store Owner Obligations
- You are the merchant of record for all products sold through your store. Galactica is not the seller.
- You must hold, and maintain in good standing, all licences, permits, and regulatory approvals required to operate a cannabis retail business in your province and municipality.
- You are solely responsible for the accuracy, legality, safety, and quality of product listings. False or misleading descriptions may result in immediate suspension.
- You must comply with all applicable laws including the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, the Medicines and Related Substances Act, and FICA.
- You must maintain stock accuracy. Accepting orders for out-of-stock products and failing to fulfil them is grounds for suspension.
- You are responsible for FICA customer due diligence on high-value transactions cleared by Galactica, including record-keeping for 5 years as required by FICA.
9. Commission and Payments
Galactica charges a tiered platform commission based on the store's monthly gross sales: 0% (up to R1,000) · 5% (R1,001–R25,000) · 10% (above R25,000). The rate for the month applies to each order's full value. Commission is invoiced to the store monthly and does not affect the EFT amounts received from customers.
Galactica does not deduct commission from customer payments. You receive the full EFT amount from customers and pay Galactica's commission invoice separately. Commission invoices are due within 14 days of issue.
Late payment of commission invoices may result in temporary store suspension until the outstanding amount is settled.
10. Store Suspension and Removal
Galactica may suspend or permanently remove a store from the platform with or without notice for: regulatory non-compliance, customer safety concerns, repeated fulfilment failures, fraudulent activity, or failure to pay commissions. No compensation is payable for suspension arising from the store's own breach of these terms.
Section C — Drivers
11. Independent Contractor Status
You are an independent contractor, not an employee, agent, or partner of Galactica. Nothing in these terms creates an employment or agency relationship. You are responsible for your own tax obligations, vehicle insurance, roadworthy certification, and compliance with all traffic and road safety legislation.
12. Driver Obligations
- You must hold a valid South African driver's licence appropriate for your vehicle.
- You must verify the age (18+) of any recipient before handing over products. If you are unable to verify age, do not complete the delivery and return the order to the store.
- You must not consume cannabis or any other intoxicating substance while on active delivery duty.
- You are responsible for the safe and intact delivery of orders. Products damaged due to negligent handling may result in recovery claims by the store.
- You must maintain vehicle insurance at all times. Galactica accepts no liability for accidents, injuries, or property damage arising from your use of a vehicle.
13. Driver Earnings
Drivers earn a per-delivery fee as published in the app (currently R20 per completed delivery plus 100% of any customer tip). Rates may be updated with 7 days' notice. Earnings are paid weekly to your registered bank account, subject to a minimum withdrawal threshold of R50.
Galactica is not liable for earnings lost due to cancelled orders, network outages, or periods of low demand.
14. Prohibited Uses
You may not use the Galactica platform to:
- Purchase, sell, or distribute any substance that is unlawful in South Africa.
- Sell to or purchase on behalf of any person under the age of 18.
- Engage in money laundering, fraud, or any activity that contravenes FICA or POCA.
- Impersonate any person or provide false identification.
- Interfere with the platform's technical infrastructure or security systems.
- Harvest personal data of other users for any purpose.
15. Intellectual Property
The Galactica name, logo, platform design, and proprietary technology are the intellectual property of Galactica Marketplace (Pty) Ltd. You may not use, copy, reproduce, or adapt any part of the platform without prior written consent.
16. Governing Law and Disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from these terms or your use of the platform shall be referred first to good-faith mediation. If mediation fails, the dispute shall be resolved in the Magistrate's Court or High Court of South Africa with jurisdiction over Galactica Marketplace (Pty) Ltd's registered office.
17. Changes to These Terms
We may update these terms at any time. Material changes will be notified by email and in-app notification at least 7 days before taking effect. Continued use of the platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
18. Contact
For legal queries or to report a breach of these terms, contact us at legal@galactica.co.za.