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Disclaimers & Limitations

Important disclaimers about AI-generated content

Disclaimers & Limitations

THANDI AI (PTY) LTD | Registration No: 2025/939429/07 | POPIA Reg: 2025-068149

Information Officer: Seelan Govender | hello@thandi.online | 0781298701

Address: 170 Innes Road, Morningside, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, 4001

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1. SERVICE DISCLAIMER

THANDI.AI IS AN AI-POWERED EDUCATIONAL TOOL — USE WITH INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION

By using this service, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • AI-generated recommendations may contain errors or omissions
  • Features may be updated or changed as the platform improves
  • Service may be unavailable for maintenance or due to technical failures
  • We provide NO GUARANTEE of accuracy, reliability, uptime, or performance
  • You should download or save important results for your records
  • User interface and experience may change as we improve the platform

    • YOU BEAR FULL RESPONSIBILITY for decisions made using this service.

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    2. CAREER GUIDANCE DISCLAIMER

    THANDI.AI IS AN AI-POWERED TOOL, NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE

    What This Means for Learners & Parents:

    University Recommendations:

  • Based on historical data and AI predictions (not guaranteed outcomes)
  • Admission requirements change annually - sometimes mid-year
  • Universities have additional criteria not captured: interviews, portfolios, personal statements, NBT scores
  • Quotas and enrollment caps affect actual admissions unpredictably
  • ALWAYS verify with official university prospectuses and admissions offices directly
  • Check application portals: CAO, university websites, DHET portals

    • Bursary & Financial Aid Information:

  • Information compiled from public sources that may be outdated
  • Deadlines and criteria frequently change without notice
  • Many bursaries have unpublished requirements or internal selection criteria
  • ALWAYS verify directly with bursary providers via official channels
  • We do NOT process applications - learners must apply directly
  • Beware of scams: Never pay to apply for bursaries
  • We do NOT guarantee any bursary awards or funding

    • Career Pathway Recommendations:

  • Based on South African labor market data (Q4 2024 - Q1 2025)
  • Market conditions change rapidly due to economic shifts, automation, policy changes
  • Individual success depends on: work ethic, networking, continuous learning, location, economic conditions
  • Not all careers suit all personality types - use judgment
  • Salary estimates are medians from Stats SA and industry reports - not guaranteed

    • NSC/IEB Subject Requirements:

  • Calculated based on 2024 matric results and university requirements
  • Some universities adjust requirements based on applicant pool quality
  • Check specific faculty rules: Some drop lowest subject, others require minimum in all subjects
  • Matric exemption rules may vary (NSC vs IEB vs SACAI)

    • Your Responsibility:

    You acknowledge that all decisions based on Thandi recommendations are your sole responsibility. You must independently verify all information before:

  • Choosing subjects for Grade 10-12
  • Applying to universities or colleges
  • Submitting bursary applications
  • Making career-altering decisions

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    3. ACADEMIC ACCURACY DISCLAIMER

    Our recommendations depend entirely on the accuracy of your input.

    We are not liable for:

  • Incorrect subject marks entered by users (typographical errors)
  • Outdated SAQA or DHET curriculum information
  • Missing prerequisite subjects not captured in our database
  • Changes in education policy (DBE curriculum changes, assessment shifts)
  • Differences between school-reported marks and final NSC results
  • Historical data lag (new programs not yet in our system)

    • Database Coverage:

  • Universities: 26 public universities, 50+ private institutions (coverage varies)
  • TVET Colleges: Partial coverage (database expanding)
  • Bursaries: 200+ active bursaries (not exhaustive)
  • Career data: Based on 2024 labor market information
  • Program info: Updated quarterly - may be outdated

    • Verification required: ALWAYS confirm with:

  • Official university prospectuses (download from university websites)
  • DHET Higher Education Information Portal
  • SAQA qualifications database
  • Individual bursary provider websites
  • School career guidance counselor

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    4. FINANCIAL AID & BURSARY DISCLAIMER

    WE ARE NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR BURSARY AGENT

    Critical Limitations:

  • We identify potential bursaries only - we do NOT guarantee eligibility
  • We do NOT process applications on your behalf
  • We do NOT guarantee any funding or financial awards
  • We do NOT provide financial advice regarding loan vs bursary decisions
  • Learners must apply directly to each bursary provider
  • Application fees: We do not charge fees; legitimate bursaries are free to apply
  • Scams: We are not liable for fraudulent bursary schemes - always verify provider legitimacy
  • Disbursement: We have no control over when or if bursaries are paid out

    • Red Flags for Bursary Scams:

  • Requests for payment to apply
  • Guarantees of award
  • No physical address or landline
  • Pressure tactics ("apply now or lose opportunity")

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    5. TECHNICAL LIMITATIONS

    AI Model Constraints:

  • Trained on South African data through August 2025
  • Confidence scores are statistical probabilities, not certainties
  • Edge cases may produce unexpected or nonsensical results
  • Rare programs/careers may have limited training data
  • Bias: AI models may reflect historical biases in education/labor data

    • System Performance:

  • Uptime: Target 99% but NO SLA guaranteed
  • Load capacity: Optimized for 100 concurrent users; may slow during peak
  • Browser compatibility: Best on Chrome, Firefox, Safari (mobile: iOS Safari, Chrome)
  • Internet dependency: Requires stable connection; offline mode not available
  • Vercel platform: Subject to platform-level outages beyond our control

    • Data Integrity:

  • Backup frequency: Daily automated backups
  • Retention: 7-day recovery window only
  • Data loss risk: Low but not zero
  • Export recommendation: Download PDF reports for permanent records

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    6. NO WARRANTY - "AS IS" PROVISION

    TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE PROVIDE THE SERVICE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

    Expressly disclaimed warranties include:

  • Merchantability (fitness for general use)
  • Fitness for a particular purpose (meeting your specific needs)
  • Non-infringement (of third-party rights)
  • Accuracy of data (completeness, correctness, timeliness)
  • Continuous availability (uninterrupted access)
  • Freedom from bugs (error-free operation)
  • Security (absolute protection from breaches)

    • You assume all risk associated with downloading, using, or relying on our service.

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    7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

    OUR LIABILITY IS STRICTLY LIMITED:

    Financial Cap:

  • Maximum liability: ZAR 10,000 per incident (subject to applicable law)
  • No compensation for indirect or consequential losses beyond this cap

    • Excluded Damages:

    We are NOT liable for:

  • Indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages
  • Lost opportunities: university admission, bursaries, employment
  • Emotional distress from recommendations
  • Reputational harm
  • Loss of profits (for schools or commercial users)
  • Costs of procurement of substitute services

    • Specific Scenarios (Not Liable):

  • Learner does not get into recommended university
  • Bursary application is denied
  • Career path leads to unemployment or dissatisfaction
  • Marks drop due to subject choice recommendations
  • Technical failure during critical application period
  • Data breach by third-party sub-operator (Supabase, Vercel, Groq, Anthropic)

    • Force Majeure:

    Not liable for failures due to: load shedding, internet outages, acts of God, war, civil unrest, pandemics, government restrictions, Vercel or Supabase platform failures.

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    8. THIRD-PARTY CONTENT & LINKS

    We link to external websites (universities, bursary providers, government portals).

    We are not responsible for:

  • Content accuracy on third-party sites
  • Third-party privacy practices (may not be POPIA compliant)
  • Third-party terms of service
  • Accessibility of third-party sites
  • Security of third-party sites (phishing, malware)
  • Dead links or moved content

    • You acknowledge: Leaving thandi.online means you are subject to other websites' terms and policies.

    Recommended Verification Sites:

  • Universities: Official .ac.za domains only
  • Bursaries: Look for .org.za, .co.za with physical addresses
  • Government: .gov.za domains (DHET, SAQA, DBE)

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    9. JURISDICTIONAL & DEMOGRAPHIC LIMITATIONS

    Thandi is specifically designed for South African learners using the NSC, IEB, or SACAI curricula.

    Coverage Limitations:

  • International curricula: IB, Cambridge IGCSE/A-Level, American AP/Honors - LIMITED accuracy
  • International learners: Performance may vary for learners outside South Africa
  • Non-standard qualifications: Adult matric, GED, foreign qualifications - NOT optimized
  • Rural connectivity: Performance depends on stable internet; we are not liable for connectivity issues
  • Language: Primary language is English; Afrikaans and isiZulu support is in development

    • B-BBEE & Transformation Data:

  • Bursary matching: B-BBEE status voluntarily disclosed only (for relevant bursaries)
  • Racial categories: Only used when specifically required for bursary matching with explicit consent
  • Rural/urban classification: Based on school location data, not individual profiling

    • We are not liable for applicability to non-South African contexts or non-standard educational pathways.

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    10. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Any statements about future features, database expansion, or performance improvements are forward-looking and not guarantees.

    Specifically not guaranteed:

  • Additional features on our roadmap
  • Database expansion to all TVET colleges
  • Mobile app development
  • Integration with specific platforms (Google Classroom, Canvas)
  • Pricing structure changes

    • We may not deliver on any roadmap items without liability.

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    11. INDEMNIFICATION

    You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Thandi AI (PTY) LTD from any claims arising from:

  • Your breach of these Terms or Privacy Policy
  • Your violation of any South African law or regulation
  • Misrepresentation of academic data (false marks, incorrect subjects)
  • Sharing your login credentials with unauthorized persons
  • Using the service for commercial purposes without license
  • Defaming Thandi on public platforms without factual basis
  • Reverse-engineering or attempting to copy our AI models
  • Introducing malware or conducting penetration testing without authorization

    • School indemnification: Schools are responsible for ensuring proper consent and supervising appropriate learner use.

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    12. ENTIRE DISCLAIMER CLAUSE

    These disclaimers are in addition to, not in replacement of:

  • Full [Privacy Policy](/legal/privacy-policy.md)
  • [Terms of Service](/legal/terms-of-service.md)
  • [Learner Data Protection Guidelines](/legal/student-data-protection.md)
  • [POPIA Compliance Statement](/legal/popia-compliance.md)

    • If any disclaimer is found invalid, remaining disclaimers remain enforceable.

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    13. ACKNOWLEDGMENT & ASSUMPTION OF RISK

    By clicking "I Agree" or using Thandi, you acknowledge that you have:

  • Read these disclaimers in full
  • Understood the limitations of AI-powered guidance
  • Accepted the limitations of AI-powered guidance
  • Agreed to independently verify all information before making decisions
  • Accepted that you use this service at your own risk

    • For learners under 18: Your parent/guardian's consent includes acknowledgment of these disclaimers on your behalf.

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    14. DOCUMENT VERSION & UPDATES

    Version: 1.2

    Last Updated: 26 May 2026

    Next Review: October 2026

    Changes: Disclaimers may be updated periodically. Check this page regularly for updates.

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    15. CONTACT FOR CLARIFICATION

    If anything in these disclaimers is unclear:

    Email: hello@thandi.online (Information Officer)

    Subject: "Disclaimer Query - [Your Question]"

    Response Time: 2 business days

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    THANDI AI (PTY) LTD

    170 Innes Road, Morningside, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, 4001

    www.thandi.online | hello@thandi.online | 0781298701

    Registration: 2025/939429/07 | POPIA: 2025-068149 | B-BBEE Level 1

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    End of Disclaimers

    Document provided by THANDI AI (PTY) LTD

    POPIA Registration: 2025-068149

    Contact Information Officer