Acceptable Use Policy

1. General Principles

All users of Hamba Rides must:

• Use the platform in a lawful, ethical, and respectful manner
• Treat other users, staff, and third parties with dignity and respect
• Provide accurate and truthful information
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Not engage in any activity that harms or could harm Hamba Rides, its users, or third parties
• Respect the intellectual property rights of others
• Maintain the security and integrity of the platform

2. Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited on the Hamba Rides platform:

2.1 Illegal Activities

• Using the platform for any illegal purpose or to facilitate illegal activities
• Transporting illegal goods, contraband, or prohibited items
• Drug trafficking or transportation of controlled substances
• Human trafficking or exploitation
• Money laundering or financial fraud
• Tax evasion or other financial crimes
• Violating any local, provincial, or national laws

2.2 Fraudulent Conduct

• Creating fake or duplicate accounts
• Providing false, misleading, or inaccurate information
• Impersonating another person or entity
• Using stolen credit cards or payment information
• Manipulating ratings, reviews, or feedback
• Claiming fraudulent refunds or chargebacks
• Colluding with other users to defraud the platform
• Creating artificial demand or supply

2.3 Harassment and Abuse

• Harassing, threatening, or intimidating other users
• Using abusive, offensive, or discriminatory language
• Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual advances
• Stalking or following users without consent
• Physical violence or threats of violence
• Bullying or cyberbullying
• Revenge actions or retaliation

2.4 Discrimination

• Discriminating against users based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other protected characteristic
• Refusing service based on discriminatory reasons
• Making discriminatory comments or gestures
• Creating a hostile environment for any user

2.5 Privacy Violations

• Recording, photographing, or filming other users without consent
• Sharing personal information of other users without permission
• Accessing or attempting to access another user's account
• Collecting or harvesting user data
• Doxxing or publicly sharing private information

2.6 Platform Abuse

• Attempting to hack, breach, or compromise platform security
• Using automated systems, bots, or scripts to access the platform
• Reverse engineering or decompiling the application
• Interfering with or disrupting the platform's operation
• Overloading or attempting to overload the system
• Bypassing security measures or access controls
• Exploiting bugs or vulnerabilities for personal gain

2.7 Commercial Misuse

• Using the platform for unauthorized commercial purposes
• Competing with Hamba Rides using our platform
• Recruiting drivers or riders for competing services
• Advertising or promoting third-party services without permission
• Reselling rides or driver services
• Operating a business through the platform without authorization

2.8 Inappropriate Content

• Posting or sharing pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit content
• Sharing violent, graphic, or disturbing content
• Promoting hate speech or extremist ideologies
• Sharing spam, malware, or malicious links
• Posting misleading or false information

3. Rider-Specific Rules

In addition to the general prohibited activities, Riders must not:

• Request rides to facilitate illegal activities
• Bring weapons, explosives, or dangerous items into vehicles
• Smoke, vape, or consume alcohol/drugs in vehicles
• Damage or vandalize driver vehicles
• Leave trash or belongings in vehicles
• Exceed vehicle passenger capacity
• Bring pets without driver approval (except service animals)
• Direct drivers to break traffic laws
• Distract drivers while driving
• Request drivers to wait unreasonably long
• Cancel rides excessively to manipulate pricing
• Leave false or malicious ratings/reviews

4. Driver-Specific Rules

In addition to the general prohibited activities, Drivers must not:

• Drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Use a mobile phone while driving (except hands-free for navigation)
• Exceed speed limits or violate traffic laws
• Operate an unsafe or uninsured vehicle
• Drive without a valid license or PrDP
• Allow unauthorized persons to drive using your account
• Refuse rides based on discriminatory reasons
• Take unreasonably long routes to increase fares
• Demand cash payments when card payment was selected
• Solicit tips or additional payments aggressively
• Make inappropriate comments or advances toward riders
• Accept rides while off-duty or unavailable
• Cherry-pick rides based on destination or fare
• Cancel accepted rides without valid reason

5. Account Security

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their accounts and must:

• Keep login credentials confidential
• Not share accounts with others
• Use strong, unique passwords
• Enable two-factor authentication when available
• Report suspicious activity immediately
• Log out from shared or public devices
• Update contact information to ensure account recovery

You must immediately notify us at info@hambarides.co.za or +27 63 025 1274 if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

6. Intellectual Property

Users must respect intellectual property rights and must not:

• Copy, reproduce, or distribute Hamba Rides' content without permission
• Use Hamba Rides' trademarks, logos, or branding without authorization
• Create derivative works based on our platform
• Remove or alter copyright notices or watermarks
• Infringe on the intellectual property rights of other users or third parties

7. Communication Standards

All communications on the platform must be:

• Respectful and professional
• Relevant to the ride or service
• Free from spam, advertising, or solicitation
• Appropriate and non-offensive
• Truthful and not misleading

Users must not:

• Send unsolicited messages or spam
• Use the platform for marketing or advertising
• Share contact information to conduct business off-platform
• Harass other users through messages

8. Reporting Violations

If you witness or experience a violation of this Acceptable Use Policy, please report it immediately:

• In-App: Use the "Report" feature in the app
• Email: info@hambarides.co.za
• Safety Issues: safety@hambarides.co.za or +27 63 025 1274
• Emergency: Call 10111 (Police) or 10177 (Ambulance) first, then notify us

All reports are taken seriously and investigated promptly. We protect the confidentiality of reporters to the extent possible.

9. Consequences of Violations

Violations of this Acceptable Use Policy may result in:

9.1 Warning

For minor or first-time violations, we may issue a warning and require corrective action.

9.2 Temporary Suspension

Your account may be temporarily suspended while we investigate serious violations or repeated minor violations.

9.3 Permanent Termination

Serious violations, repeated violations, or failure to comply with warnings may result in permanent account termination.

9.4 Legal Action

We reserve the right to pursue legal action for violations that:

• Violate criminal laws
• Cause harm to Hamba Rides, users, or third parties
• Result in financial losses
• Compromise platform security
• Infringe intellectual property rights

9.5 Cooperation with Authorities

We will cooperate with law enforcement and regulatory authorities in investigating violations and may disclose user information as required by law.

9.6 No Refunds

Users whose accounts are suspended or terminated for policy violations are not entitled to refunds for unused credits or services.

10. Appeals Process

If your account is suspended or terminated, you may appeal the decision:

1. Submit an appeal to appeals@hambarides.co.za within 14 days
2. Include your account information and explanation
3. Provide any supporting evidence
4. Our team will review and respond within 7 business days

Appeal decisions are final. Repeated violations after reinstatement will result in permanent termination without further appeal.

11. Monitoring and Enforcement

To enforce this policy, we may:

• Monitor platform activity and communications
• Use automated systems to detect violations
• Review user reports and complaints
• Conduct investigations
• Request additional information or documentation
• Work with third-party service providers

We are not obligated to monitor all activity but reserve the right to do so.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Material changes will be communicated via:

• In-app notification
• Email to registered users
• Update to the "Last Updated" date

Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Information

For questions about this Acceptable Use Policy, please contact us: