Terms of Use

Effective date: 10 July 2026

These Terms of Use ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("you", "user") and Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd) ("we", "us", "Crovos", "Batla") governing your use of the Batla website (batla.co.za), the Batla mobile application, and any related platforms (together, the "Service").

By using the Service or submitting information through it, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

These Terms are written in plain language as required by the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008.

1. About Batla

Batla is an online directory service that connects township residents with local businesses in their neighbourhood. It is operated by Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd), a company registered in South Africa.

Batla is a directory only. We display information that business owners (or their authorised ambassadors) submit to us. We are not a party to any transaction, interaction, or agreement between a user of the directory and any listed business. We do not endorse, verify, or vouch for any business listed on the platform.

2. Nature of the platform — ECTA safe harbour

2.1 Batla operates as an online service provider as contemplated in Chapter XI (including Section 75) of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 ("ECT Act").

2.2 Batla is a passive conduit and host of third-party content. We do not originate the content of business listings, we do not select which listings to display for payment or editorial reasons, and we do not modify the content of listings beyond automatic formatting and presentation. We transmit, store, and cache listings as they are submitted by business owners and ambassadors.

2.3 Accordingly, Batla is not liable for the accuracy, legality, or completeness of any listing that we did not originate.

2.4 Batla is not a party to any transaction between a user and a listed business. If you buy goods or services from a business found on Batla, that contract is solely between you and the business.

3. Pre-launch notice

The Batla mobile application has not yet been released to the public. The website is a pre-launch page used to:

(a) Allow interested users to register for a waitlist to be notified at launch; and
(b) Allow business owners to submit their business details in advance of the app launching.

We make no promise or guarantee as to:

By submitting a business listing or joining the waitlist before launch, you accept that you are doing so in anticipation of a service that is still under development.

4. Who may use the Service

You may use the Service if you are:

By using the Service, you confirm that you meet these requirements.

You may not use the Service if you are prohibited from doing so under applicable South African law.

5. Submitting a business listing

5.1 Your warranties

By submitting a business listing, you warrant (promise) that:

(a) You are the owner of the business, or a duly authorised representative of the business owner;

(b) The business exists and is a real, operating (or soon to be operating) business;

(c) All information you submit is accurate, complete, and not misleading — including the business name, category, contact details, location, description, and any photograph;

(d) Where applicable, you hold the licences, permits, and approvals required to operate the business under applicable South African law;

(e) Any photograph you submit either belongs to you, was taken by you of your own premises, or you have the legal right to use and submit it — and the photograph does not infringe anyone's copyright or violate anyone's right to privacy;

(f) The business does not engage in any unlawful activity;

(g) The contact details you provide (including the WhatsApp number) belong to the business and you are authorised to use them.

5.2 Service limitations

The following technical limitations currently apply to business listings (they may change over time):

5.3 What we may do with your listing

By submitting a listing, you grant Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd) a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to:

This licence does not allow us to sell your information to third parties (see our Privacy Policy).

5.4 Accuracy — your responsibility

You are solely responsible for ensuring that your listing information remains accurate and up to date. Batla is a user-submitted directory. We do not independently verify any information submitted. Users of the app rely on the accuracy of your listing — please keep it current.

GPS coordinates are approximate. Location pins are captured from consumer-grade device GPS at the time of registration. We make no warranty as to the accuracy of any location, map pin, or directions shown on the Service.

5.5 Removing your listing

You may request removal of your listing at any time, with no questions asked. Contact us at info@crovostechnologies.co.za or WhatsApp +27 64 851 6218 and we will remove it within a reasonable time, typically within 14 days.

6. Ambassador-assisted registration

6.1 A business may be registered on Batla by a Batla ambassador acting on the business owner's behalf. Ambassadors are independent contractors governed by a separate Ambassador Service Agreement.

6.2 An ambassador may only submit a listing while the business owner (or the owner's authorised representative) is physically present, and the owner's consent is confirmed by a mandatory declaration completed at the time of registration.

6.3 By allowing an ambassador to submit a listing on your behalf, you authorise Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd) to store and display that information as if you had submitted it yourself, and these Terms apply to you as if you had submitted the listing directly.

6.4 A submission made by an ambassador without the owner's knowledge or consent is a breach of the Ambassador Service Agreement. We are not responsible for fraudulent ambassador submissions made without the owner's knowledge — liability for such a submission rests with the ambassador concerned. If your business was listed without your consent, contact us and we will remove the listing (see clause 5.5).

7. Multi-homing and fees

7.1 You are free to list your business on any other platform, directory, or application. Batla does not require exclusivity and will never penalise you for listing your business elsewhere.

7.2 The basic listing is currently free. We reserve the right to introduce optional paid features in the future, with reasonable notice.

8. Prohibited content and conduct

You may not submit or use the Service to:

(a) Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information;

(b) Submit a listing for a business you do not own or represent;

(c) Submit a listing for an illegal business or a business used to facilitate unlawful activity;

(d) Submit photographs or descriptions that contain sexually explicit material, hate speech, defamatory content, or content that incites violence or discrimination;

(e) Submit another person's private information (such as home address or ID number) without their consent;

(f) Impersonate another person or business;

(g) Use the Service to spam, harass, or threaten any person;

(h) Attempt to access, interfere with, or damage our systems, database, or servers;

(i) Use any automated tool (bot, scraper, or crawler) to extract data from the Service without our prior written consent;

(j) Use the Service for any commercial purpose other than listing your own legitimate business.

We reserve the right to remove any content and to block any user that we believe, in our sole and reasonable discretion, has violated these prohibitions.

9. Our rights to remove content

We reserve the right, at any time and without prior notice, to:

(a) Remove or decline to publish any listing or any content submitted to the Service (we do not edit the substance of listing content — see clause 2.2 — but we may apply formatting and presentation);

(b) Suspend or terminate any user's access to the Service;

(c) Modify, suspend, or discontinue all or part of the Service.

We are under no obligation to explain our reasons for exercising these rights, although we will aim to be fair and reasonable.

10. Reporting a listing

10.1 If you believe a listing is inaccurate, fake, or misleading, you may report it using the in-app report button, or by contacting us directly.

10.2 We aim to review reports within 48 hours of receiving them. This is a target, not a binding service level — we make no guarantee that a reported listing will be reviewed, actioned, or removed within any particular time.

10.3 Whether and how to act on a report is in our sole and reasonable discretion.

11. Offline caching and stale data

The Batla app stores copies of business listings locally on your device so that it works offline and uses little data. Cached information can become outdated. We are not responsible for stale cached data shown on your device after a listing has been updated or removed. Always confirm important details (such as trading hours or location) directly with the business.

12. Intellectual property

12.1 Our property

All content on the Batla website and application that was created by us — including the Batla name, logo, design, text, graphics, software, and code — is the intellectual property of Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd) and is protected by South African and international intellectual property law. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without our prior written consent.

12.2 Your content

You retain ownership of any content you submit (such as your business photograph and description). By submitting it, you grant us the licence described in clause 5.3.

12.3 Third-party property

The Google Play Store badge displayed on the website is the property of Google LLC and is used in accordance with Google's brand guidelines. Map imagery in the app is provided by OpenStreetMap contributors under their applicable licences. We do not claim ownership of either.

13. Disclaimer of warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law:

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available", without any warranty of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory.

We do not warrant that:

Batla is a directory. We display what users submit. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, accuracy, or availability of any listed business or its products and services.

Nothing in this clause removes any rights you may have under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 that cannot lawfully be excluded.

14. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd), its directors, employees, officers, affiliates, and agents will not be liable for:

(a) Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of or inability to use the Service;

(b) Any loss or damage arising from your reliance on information displayed in a business listing, including but not limited to: a business being closed when the listing says it is open; incorrect contact details; incorrect location or GPS coordinates; outdated information served from your device's offline cache; a business failing to deliver products or services as described;

(c) Any loss of profit, data, goodwill, or business opportunity;

(d) Any damage to your device resulting from your use of the Service;

(e) Any conduct of a business listed on the Service, including fraud, theft, damage, or injury caused by a listed business;

(f) Any listing submitted by an ambassador in breach of clause 6 — liability for such a submission rests with the ambassador concerned.

Important notice (Section 49, Consumer Protection Act): We draw your attention specifically to this clause. It limits our liability for loss or damage you may suffer while using this Service. Please read it carefully before using the Service.

Our maximum aggregate liability to you for any claim arising from or relating to the Service, to the extent liability cannot be fully excluded by law, shall not exceed R500 (five hundred rand).

15. Your indemnity to us

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd) and its directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, penalties, or costs (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

(a) Your use of the Service;

(b) Any listing information you submitted (directly or through an ambassador acting with your consent) that is false, inaccurate, or misleading;

(c) Any photograph or content you submitted that infringes a third party's intellectual property or privacy rights;

(d) Any violation of these Terms by you;

(e) Any claim by a third party arising from your business or its operations.

16. Third-party services

The Service may contain links to or integrations with third-party services, including:

Your use of third-party services is governed by their respective terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the content, practices, or availability of any third-party service.

17. Privacy

Our collection, use, and protection of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms and is incorporated here by reference. Please read the Privacy Policy carefully.

18. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including (without limitation):

Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Gauteng, South Africa.

19. Dispute resolution

We would prefer to resolve any dispute directly and amicably before resorting to litigation.

If you have a complaint or dispute, please:

  1. Contact us first at info@crovostechnologies.co.za or WhatsApp +27 64 851 6218.
  2. We will respond and attempt to resolve the matter within a reasonable time, typically within 30 days.
  3. If the matter is not resolved within that time, either party may pursue their legal remedies.

If the dispute relates to personal information and POPIA, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (see our Privacy Policy, Section 11).

20. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be deemed severed from these Terms without affecting the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

21. Entire agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd) regarding the Service and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

22. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in the law, our business, or the Service. When we do, we will update the "effective date" at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

23. Contact us

Crovos Technologies (Pty Ltd)
Email: info@crovostechnologies.co.za
WhatsApp: +27 64 851 6218
Website: batla.co.za

These Terms of Use were last reviewed on 10 July 2026.

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