Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Hostitworld (HOSTIT) & SA Servers
Updated: 01 July 2025
1. Introduction
This Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”) governs the use of services provided by Hostitworld, also referred to as HOSTIT, including its subsidiary SA Servers (“we”, “us”, “our”). This policy applies to all users (“client”, “you”, “your”) who engage with our internet services, website and application development, hosting, internet access, and email services.
By using our services, you agree to comply with this AUP, our general Terms and Conditions, and all applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of South Africa.
2. Acceptable Use of Services
You agree not to use, nor permit others to use, the services provided by Hostitworld or SA Servers to:
Engage in any unlawful, fraudulent, or malicious activities.
Transmit or store any material in violation of any applicable law or regulation, including but not limited to content that is abusive, defamatory, obscene, or constitutes hate speech.
Send unsolicited bulk email (“spam”) or engage in phishing, spoofing, or other forms of electronic abuse.
Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of our services or the networks of other users or providers.
Host or distribute malware, viruses, ransomware, or any software intended to cause harm or unauthorized access.
Infringe upon the intellectual property or privacy rights of others.
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or the systems of other clients.
3. Service Commitments & Liability
While Hostitworld and SA Servers strive to deliver the highest quality services, we:
Do not guarantee uninterrupted, secure, or error-free service availability at all times.
Accept no responsibility for any disruptions of services under any circumstance, including but not limited to power outages, equipment failure, network downtime, DDoS attacks, or any force majeure events.
Reserve the right to restrict, suspend, or terminate services for violation of this policy without prior notice.
4. Payments and Billing
4.1. Monthly Payments
Payment for services is due upfront on the 1st of each calendar month.
Account reminders may be sent, but we are not obligated to do so.
If payment is not received by the 5th, or an alternative payment arrangement is not made with our accounts department, services will be automatically suspended.
Contact for accounts: accounts@hostit.co.za
4.2. Annual Payments
Clients who opt for annual payment plans will receive a discount.
Annual payments are due one month before the service renewal date.
4.3. Payment Disputes and Currency Fluctuations
Service pricing may be subject to fluctuations in the ZAR/USD exchange rate. Any increases in cost due to currency changes may be passed on to the client.
Failure to accept such adjusted pricing may result in suspension or termination of services.
Disputed invoices must be raised in writing within 7 days of invoice receipt.
5. Development Projects
5.1. Project Deposits and Phases
Website and application development projects typically require a 50% deposit before commencement.
If projects are divided into phases, payment will be required at the start of each specified phase, as outlined in the project quotation or proposal.
5.2. Delivery Timeframes
Project delivery timeframes are estimates and may change due to client delays, scope changes, or unforeseen technical challenges.
Clients are responsible for providing timely feedback and content to avoid project delays.
6. Email & Hosting Services
Clients using our email and hosting services must:
Keep login credentials secure and not share them with unauthorized users.
Use email accounts responsibly and not for spam or bulk unsolicited messages.
Ensure their websites and scripts are kept up-to-date to prevent abuse or compromise.
Regularly back up important content and emails. While we offer backups, we do not guarantee full restoration in the event of data loss.
7. Suspension and Termination
We reserve the right to:
Immediately suspend or terminate services that violate this policy or pose a threat to our network or clients.
Suspend services for non-payment without notice on the 5th of the month, unless an arrangement is made with our accounts department.
Charge re-connection or late payment fees at our discretion.
8. Legal Compliance and Jurisdiction
This AUP and all services provided by Hostitworld and SA Servers are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
Any disputes arising from this policy or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.
We reserve the right to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, regulators, or other authorities in investigations relating to misuse of our services.
9. Changes to the Policy
Hostitworld reserves the right to update or modify this AUP at any time. Clients will be notified of significant changes via email or a notice on our website. Continued use of services after changes implies acceptance of the revised terms.
10. Contact Information
For questions regarding this AUP or other policies, please contact:
General Inquiries: support@hostit.co.za
Accounts Department: accounts@hostit.co.za
Abuse Reports: abuse@hostit.co.za
Website: https://www.hostit.co.za
11. Service Level Agreements (SLA)
11.1. Overview
Hostitworld (HOSTIT), including its subsidiary SA Servers, offers clients a range of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for ongoing services including, but not limited to:
Website management
E-commerce support and maintenance
Website updates and content management
Technical assistance and issue resolution
General site administration and optimization
The exact scope of services provided under any SLA is defined and limited to those outlined in the client’s SLA Services Quotation provided at the time of engagement.
11.2. SLA Duration and Payments
SLAs are generally contracted for a fixed duration of 12 months (1 year).
SLAs must be paid in full upfront to activate service.
Clients who purchase an SLA will receive a discounted rate based on the prevailing standard service rates.
The number of support hours included in the SLA is clearly indicated in the SLA Quotation and is available for use throughout the contracted period.
11.3. Client Responsibilities
To ensure effective service delivery under the SLA, clients must:
Provide clear and timely communication regarding tasks or issues.
Supply necessary login credentials, content, or access to systems as needed.
Respond to support requests and clarification queries within reasonable timeframes.
Failure to provide the above may delay resolution or impact delivery timelines, for which Hostitworld and SA Servers shall not be held liable.
11.4. Issue Resolution and Complaints
Should a client experience dissatisfaction or a perceived failure in service delivery under the terms of an SLA:
The client must notify us in writing within a reasonable time, with specific detail regarding the issue, by email to: support@hostit.co.za.
Hostitworld will investigate and strive to resolve the issue within 7 (seven) calendar days of receipt of the written notice.
If the issue is not resolved to the client’s reasonable satisfaction within that period, and provided the problem was within the scope of the SLA services quoted, the client will be eligible for a refund of the remaining balance of unused SLA hours.
Refunds are calculated only on the balance of hours not yet used, and do not include any hours already delivered or time spent attempting to resolve the issue.
11.5. Limitations of Liability
Hostitworld and SA Servers do not warrant uninterrupted service or error-free performance under any SLA.
We shall not be held liable for delays, damages, or losses resulting from events outside our control, including third-party software issues, hosting outages, acts of God, or security breaches outside our environment.
No refund, liability, or credit shall be due for dissatisfaction arising from client-imposed delays, changes in scope not reflected in the SLA quotation, or subjective preferences not previously agreed upon in writing.
11.6. Termination of SLA
SLA agreements are binding for the agreed-upon term unless terminated early by mutual written consent.
If the client chooses to terminate the SLA early without cause, no refund will be due.
SLA services and hours do not roll over beyond the contracted 12-month period.
11.7. Contact and Support
All SLA-related support, queries, and notifications must be directed to:
support@hostit.co.za
www.hostit.co.za
12. Global Infrastructure and Domain Registrations
12.1. Use of International Registrars and Service Providers
Hostitworld, including its subsidiary SA Servers, leverages a network of trusted international domain registrars and service partners to provide domain registration, DNS management, website hosting, and email services.
We may register, renew, or manage domain names on behalf of clients using third-party registrars located in various countries, including but not limited to the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa.
The terms and conditions of these registrars may apply in conjunction with Hostitworld’s policies. Hostitworld is not liable for disruptions or delays resulting from actions, outages, or policy changes by such registrars.
By using our domain services, you agree to be bound by the domain name policies of the respective registrar, including dispute resolution rules such as UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy).
12.2. Distributed DNS, Hosting & Email Infrastructure
Hostitworld may deploy DNS servers, hosting servers, and email infrastructure across multiple geographic locations, including data centers in South Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia, depending on performance, redundancy, and client requirements.
DNS records and routing may be managed globally through third-party content delivery networks (CDNs), DNS providers, or security platforms (e.g., Cloudflare, AWS, Google Cloud, etc.).
Email services may be hosted on separate servers and in distinct jurisdictions from web hosting and DNS, depending on the service configuration.
12.3. Data Jurisdiction and Compliance
While we take reasonable steps to ensure your data is stored and processed in accordance with South African data protection laws (POPIA), the use of international infrastructure may result in your data being transferred or temporarily stored in other countries.
By using our services, you acknowledge and agree to such transfers, provided they are necessary for the operation of the services and that appropriate safeguards are in place.
12.4. Service Continuity and Risk Management
Hostitworld and SA Servers take measures to ensure high availability and redundancy across regions. However, we cannot be held responsible for service outages, latency, or data loss arising from:
Issues at upstream international registrars or DNS providers
Local government regulations or enforcement actions in foreign jurisdictions
Internet routing anomalies or force majeure affecting international infrastructure
13. Backups and Data Loss Liability
13.1. Automated Backups
Hostitworld and its subsidiary, SA Servers, implement automated backup systems across many of our services, including:
Domains and DNS configurations
Website content and databases
Email accounts (where email hosting is provided by us)
These backups are performed at scheduled intervals and are intended as a convenience to support data recovery in the event of accidental loss or corruption.
13.2. No Liability for Data Loss
While we strive to maintain the integrity and reliability of backup systems, Hostitworld cannot be held liable for any data loss under any circumstance, including but not limited to:
Hardware or system failure
Network outages or connectivity disruptions
Software errors or corruption
Hacking, malware, or unauthorized access
User error or deletion
Force majeure events (e.g., fire, flood, or power failure)
Failures at third-party infrastructure or service providers
It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that local and independent backups are maintained of critical files, databases, emails, and configurations where necessary.
13.3. Restoration Support
We may, at our discretion, assist clients in attempting data recovery from available backups. However:
Restoration is not guaranteed, and
Restoration services may incur additional charges, depending on the complexity or urgency of the request.
By using our services, you acknowledge and accept the risks associated with data storage and transfer, and agree that Hostitworld and SA Servers shall not be held liable for any loss, corruption, or inaccessibility of data for any reason.
This global infrastructure approach allows Hostitworld to provide scalable, reliable, and performance-optimized services to clients worldwide. Clients must understand and accept the distributed nature of our systems and any associated risks.
This Acceptable Use Policy is an essential part of your agreement with Hostitworld and SA Servers. Violation of this policy may result in suspension or termination of services, and potential legal action.