The agreement that keeps trading on TrusTrade fair, safe, and transparent for everyone — written to be read, not just signed.
Here's the plain-English summary so you know where you stand. It's a friendly overview — the full sections below are what legally apply if there's ever a conflict.
TrusTrade is an online marketplace where people across South Africa buy and sell second-hand goods. We connect buyers and sellers and give you tools to trade more safely. We are not the buyer or seller of any item unless we clearly say so.
We are not a bank, insurer, courier, valuer, or guarantor. We can't guarantee the identity, honesty, or conduct of any user, and we can't reverse deals made off the platform.
TrusTrade is an online marketplace operated by Trustrade (Pty) Ltd, a company incorporated in the Republic of South Africa ("TrusTrade", "we", "us", or "our"). Independent sellers list second-hand goods, and buyers purchase or bid on them — online or through in-person collection.
Unless we state otherwise in writing, TrusTrade is only an intermediary and technology provider. We are not the buyer, seller, owner, or custodian of any item listed, and nothing here is financial, legal, insurance, or investment advice.
By accessing or using TrusTrade in any way, you agree to these terms together with the policies and notices published on the platform. If you don't agree, please stop using the platform.
Please read these terms carefully before using TrusTrade. By registering, listing, bidding, buying, or otherwise using the platform, you confirm you've read, understood, and agreed to be bound by them.
A few quick definitions so the rest of these terms read clearly:
To use TrusTrade you must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority where you live, if higher). When you register, you confirm your information is accurate and complete, and you agree to keep it up to date.
We won't be liable for loss arising from unauthorised access to your account that results from you not keeping your credentials secure.
Everyone must comply with applicable South African law when using TrusTrade — including the CPA, POPIA, ECTA, the Cybercrimes Act, and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, among others.
You may not list, advertise, or facilitate the sale of anything illegal — including stolen goods, counterfeits, prohibited weapons, controlled substances, or protected wildlife products.
We act as a service provider under ECTA. We don't proactively monitor every listing, but we act appropriately when notified of unlawful content, and we cooperate with law enforcement and the courts when legally required. Where these terms ever conflict with a South African statute, the statute wins.
Any registered user can browse and buy without full seller verification — unless a seller has restricted a listing to verified buyers only, in which case you'll need to verify first.
We don't verify the accuracy, quality, or fitness of listed items, so buyers should satisfy themselves about a seller's legitimacy and purchase at their own risk (subject to your CPA rights).
Where the Consumer Protection Act applies, you keep all your rights to fair value, good quality, and safe goods. Nothing in these terms waives a CPA right that can't lawfully be excluded. If goods aren't as described, contact the seller first; if that doesn't resolve it, lodge a dispute. Note that cancellation rights can be more limited for auction purchases.
All sellers must complete verification before publishing any listing. Verification may include a valid South African ID, proof of address, and confirmation of a valid bank or payment account. Verification is a minimum eligibility check — it isn't an endorsement of you or your goods.
You're solely responsible for your listings. We may remove or suspend any listing we reasonably believe breaches these terms or the law. Sellers must also fulfil completed transactions promptly and in good faith, communicate through platform messaging, and never inflate ratings with fake reviews or extra accounts.
Applicable fees are set out in the TrusTrade Fee Schedule published on the platform and may change from time to time. Where possible, we may deduct fees from escrowed proceeds before releasing funds. You remain liable for outstanding fees even if a transaction is disputed or cancelled, except where the reversal is due to our error.
Some listings run as auctions. These are governed by section 45 of the CPA and CPA Regulations 18–33 (Regulation 30 covers online auctions), as well as ECTA. Importantly, the ECTA cooling-off period does not apply to auction purchases — so consider every bid carefully.
We keep electronic records of all bidding — timestamps, IP addresses, and amounts — and may void bids or cancel results where we detect manipulation or fraud.
We accept approved payment methods, which may include TradeSafe escrow, card payments, and instant EFT through approved gateways. For online transactions we strongly recommend — and may require — paying through TradeSafe.
TradeSafe is an independent provider operating under its own terms (available at tradesafe.co.za), which you must accept when using it. TrusTrade does not hold or control escrowed funds and isn't responsible for losses or delays attributable to TradeSafe's systems. Escrow disputes are raised directly with TradeSafe; we'll share supporting records where we can, but the final call on releasing funds rests with TradeSafe.
You're responsible for the accuracy of your payment details. Payment fraud — stolen cards, fake proof of payment, fraudulent reversals, or chargeback abuse — breaches these terms and the law. We may hold a payout where we reasonably suspect fraud or a dispute, and will tell you where we're legally able to.
Where you agree to ship rather than meet, delivery can be arranged through The Courier Guy or another approved courier shown on the platform. TrusTrade is not a courier and does not transport goods — couriers operate under their own terms, and we make no warranty about their speed or reliability.
Claims for lost, damaged, or delayed parcels must be raised with the courier first, as they're governed by the courier's liability terms (TCG shipments are at the owner's risk unless extra insurance is bought). Certain items — explosives, flammables, weapons, cash, live animals, and similar — may never be shipped. Both parties should keep tracking references as evidence in any dispute.
TrusTrade supports in-person trades, but these are arranged between users at their own initiative and risk. We're not present and can't monitor or intervene in what happens during a meetup.
Confirm all material terms — condition, price, payment method, and meeting point — through TrusTrade messaging beforehand. We are not responsible for theft, fraud, injury, or loss during an in-person exchange, though nothing here limits your rights against another user who commits a criminal or wrongful act. Once you inspect and pay in person, it's much harder to dispute issues you could have spotted at the time.
Please use TrusTrade messaging as your main channel for everything related to a transaction — negotiations, condition queries, delivery arrangements, and any agreement or change.
Keeping it on-platform creates a verifiable record, lets us investigate disputes fairly, helps us spot fraud, and meets ECTA's requirements for electronic records. Off-platform messages (WhatsApp, email, calls) may not be accepted as reliable evidence in a dispute.
Use the in-app reporting tools to flag suspicious or abusive messages. We may review flagged content and respond with warnings, restrictions, suspensions, or referral to law enforcement.
Our seller verification process is designed to reduce fraud and give buyers basic assurance about who they're dealing with. It may include a valid South African ID, proof of address within the last three months, and confirmation of an active bank account — all handled in line with POPIA.
Passing verification is a minimum identity check, not a guarantee that a seller is trustworthy or that goods are as described. We act in good faith on the information we receive and aren't liable for losses from identity fraud where we followed our procedures. Always use your own judgement.
TrusTrade will never ask for your password, one-time PINs, or full banking details. If anyone claiming to be from TrusTrade does, it's a scam — report it immediately.
If a deal doesn't go as agreed, message the other party first — many issues resolve with clear communication. If that fails, lodge a formal dispute through our dispute tool, describing the issue clearly and attaching all relevant evidence.
We investigate using platform records and the evidence you submit, acting as a neutral facilitator. Our process is administrative only — we are not a court, arbitrator, or ombud, and our findings aren't legally binding. Where escrow is involved, we share our assessment with TradeSafe, but TradeSafe makes the final call on the funds.
Report suspected stolen goods immediately using the reporting tool and, where appropriate, to the South African Police Service. Sellers who list stolen goods have their accounts permanently terminated, are reported to law enforcement, and may be held civilly liable. We cooperate with lawful requests from the authorities.
Still not satisfied? You can escalate to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (cgso.org.za) or the National Consumer Commission where the matter falls within their jurisdiction.
TrusTrade provides a platform and technology service. We don't inspect, warrant, or guarantee the quality, safety, accuracy, or legality of any listing, and we can't guarantee that any user will complete a transaction, pay on time, or deliver as promised.
To the maximum extent permitted by South African law, our total liability for any claim relating to the platform or these terms won't exceed the greater of the fees you paid us in the preceding 12 months or R1 000.
Nothing here limits our liability for fraud or wilful misconduct, for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for anything that can't lawfully be excluded — including under the CPA. The platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, and we may suspend access for maintenance or security reasons.
All intellectual property in the platform — the TrusTrade name, logo, software, and design — belongs to TrusTrade or its licensors. You get a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the platform for its intended purpose, and may not copy, modify, or distribute any part of it without our written consent.
When you upload photos, descriptions, or other content, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display and reproduce that content solely to operate the platform.
We may update these terms at any time. When changes are material, we'll make reasonable efforts to notify you by email or a notice on the platform. Continuing to use TrusTrade after a change takes effect means you accept the updated terms — so it's worth checking the latest version now and then. If you don't accept a change, please stop using the platform and close your account.
Questions about these terms, our policies, or your account? We're happy to help:
This document is provided for transparency and ease of reference. It does not constitute legal advice.