Greater Kokstad Municipality

Website: www.kokstad.gov.za

Last Updated: 28 September 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to the official website of Greater Kokstad Municipality.

These Website Terms & Conditions govern the use of the Municipality's website at kokstad.gov.za, including any information, services, documents, forms, downloads, links and other content made available through the website.

By accessing or using this website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.

If you do not agree with these Terms & Conditions, you should discontinue use of the website.

2. Purpose of the Website

The Greater Kokstad Municipality website is intended to provide residents, businesses, visitors, service providers and other stakeholders with access to municipal information and online resources.

The website may provide information relating to:

• Municipal services;
• Notices and announcements;
• Public participation;
• Council information;
• Policies and by-laws;
• Tenders and quotations;
• Vacancies;
• Service delivery updates;
• Municipal documents;
• Reports;
• Events;
• Contact information;
• Forms and applications;
• News and media releases;
• Customer service information; and
• Other municipal functions and activities.

The website is intended primarily as an information and communication platform.

3. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing or using the website, you agree to comply with these Terms & Conditions and all applicable South African laws.

The Municipality may update or amend these Terms & Conditions from time to time.

Continued use of the website after changes have been published will constitute acknowledgement of the updated Terms & Conditions.

4. Permitted Use

Users may use this website for lawful purposes, including:

• Accessing municipal information;
• Downloading publicly available municipal documents;
• Making legitimate enquiries;
• Submitting municipal forms or applications;
• Accessing public notices;
• Participating in approved municipal processes;
• Obtaining contact details; and
• Using online municipal services made available through the website.

Users may not use the website for any unlawful, fraudulent, harmful or disruptive purpose.

5. Prohibited Activities

Users may not:

• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the website, server, database or related systems;
• Interfere with the normal operation of the website;
• Upload or transmit malicious software, viruses, malware, scripts or harmful code;
• Attempt to exploit website vulnerabilities;
• Perform unauthorised security testing or penetration testing;
• Submit false or misleading information;
• Impersonate another person or organisation;
• Use the website for fraudulent purposes;
• Attempt to bypass website security controls;
• Attempt to overload or disrupt the website;
• Use automated tools to extract excessive amounts of website content without authorisation;
• Modify or interfere with website content;
• Violate intellectual property rights;
• Publish unlawful, defamatory, offensive or harmful material through interactive website facilities; or
• Use the website in a manner that may prejudice the Municipality, its systems or other users.

The Municipality reserves the right to restrict or block access where suspicious, malicious or unlawful activity is identified.

6. Accuracy of Information

Greater Kokstad Municipality endeavours to ensure that information published on the website is accurate, current and reliable.

However, municipal information may change from time to time and the Municipality cannot guarantee that all information will always be complete, current or free from errors.

Users should verify important information directly with the relevant municipal department before relying on website content for legal, financial, contractual or other significant decisions.

Where a discrepancy exists between information published on the website and an official municipal record, the official municipal record will prevail, subject to applicable law.

7. Website Availability

The Municipality will make reasonable efforts to keep the website available and operational.

However, uninterrupted access cannot be guaranteed.

The website may temporarily become unavailable due to:

• Scheduled maintenance;
• Server maintenance;
• Software upgrades;
• Security updates;
• Network problems;
• Power failures;
• Cybersecurity incidents;
• Technical failures;
• Hosting-provider interruptions;
• Telecommunications failures; or
• Circumstances beyond the Municipality's reasonable control.

The Municipality will not be liable merely because the website or a particular online service is temporarily unavailable.

8. Online Forms and Electronic Submissions

The website may provide facilities for users to submit:

• Enquiries;
• Complaints;
• Applications;
• Service requests;
• Feedback;
• Tender-related information;
• Job applications;
• Contact forms; or
• Other information.

Submission of an online form does not automatically mean that an application, request, complaint or transaction has been approved, accepted or successfully processed.

Where applicable, users should retain any reference number or electronic acknowledgement received after submission.

The Municipality may contact a user to request additional information or documentation.

9. Municipal Notices and Official Communications

The website may publish municipal notices, announcements and other information for public convenience.

Where legislation requires publication through a particular official channel, newspaper, Government Gazette, municipal notice board or other prescribed mechanism, publication on the website does not necessarily replace the legally prescribed publication process unless permitted by law.

Users should therefore verify the official status of notices where necessary.

10. Tenders, Quotations and Procurement Information

Tender, quotation and procurement information may be published on the website for public access.

Prospective bidders are responsible for ensuring that they:

• Review all relevant bid documentation;
• Confirm closing dates and times;
• Review amendments, notices or addenda;
• Comply with submission requirements; and
• Verify procurement information with the Municipality where necessary.

Information displayed on the website does not override the official tender or quotation documentation.

Where there is any inconsistency, the official procurement documentation issued by the Municipality will prevail.

11. Vacancies and Employment Applications

Employment opportunities may be advertised through the website.

Users are responsible for ensuring that applications are submitted according to the requirements stated in the relevant vacancy notice.

Publication of a vacancy does not guarantee employment, interview selection or appointment.

The Municipality reserves the right to:

• Amend vacancy notices;
• Extend closing dates;
• Withdraw advertisements;
• Re-advertise positions; or
• Decline to make an appointment,

where legally permissible.

12. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise indicated, website content belongs to Greater Kokstad Municipality or is used with appropriate permission.

This may include:

• Text;
• Municipal logos;
• Photographs;
• Graphics;
• Documents;
• Website layouts;
• Reports;
• Videos;
• Databases;
• Maps; and
• Other website materials.

Users may download or print publicly available information for lawful personal, educational, public-interest or business reference purposes.

Users may not reproduce municipal logos, protected branding or copyrighted content for commercial, misleading or unauthorised purposes without appropriate permission.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions grants ownership of municipal intellectual property to website users.

13. Use of the Municipal Logo

The Greater Kokstad Municipality name, crest, logo and related branding may not be used in a manner that:

• Suggests official endorsement without authorisation;
• Misrepresents a relationship with the Municipality;
• Creates confusion regarding the source of information;
• Is misleading;
• Is defamatory; or
• Is used for unauthorised commercial purposes.

Permission should be obtained from the Municipality before using protected municipal branding where required.

14. External Links

The website may contain links to websites operated by:

• Government departments;
• Public entities;
• Service providers;
• Social media platforms;
• Partner organisations; and
• Other third parties.

These links are provided for convenience and informational purposes.

Greater Kokstad Municipality does not necessarily control, endorse or guarantee:

• Third-party content;
• External website availability;
• Security practices;
• Privacy practices;
• Products;
• Services; or
• Accuracy of information on external websites.

Users access external websites at their own discretion and should review the relevant third-party terms and privacy policies.

15. Third-Party Services

Certain online municipal services may be supported or operated by external service providers.

These may include:

• Payment platforms;
• Hosting providers;
• Online form systems;
• Document platforms;
• Mapping systems;
• Email services;
• Security services; or
• Other information technology systems.

Use of certain third-party platforms may also be subject to the terms and privacy policies of those providers.

16. Privacy and Personal Information

Personal information submitted through the website will be handled in accordance with applicable South African law, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 ("POPIA").

Users should review the Municipality's Privacy Policy for further information regarding:

• Collection of personal information;
• Processing purposes;
• Security;
• Information sharing;
• Retention;
• Cookies;
• Data-subject rights; and
• Contact details for privacy enquiries.

The Privacy Policy forms part of the Municipality's website governance framework.

17. Cookies

The website may use cookies and similar technologies to support functionality, security, performance and analytics.

Further details regarding the use of cookies should be read together with the Municipality's Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Users may adjust browser settings to control cookies, although certain website functions may be affected.

18. Cybersecurity

The Municipality takes reasonable steps to protect its website and supporting systems.

Users are prohibited from attempting to:

• Hack the website;
• Introduce malware;
• Scan systems without authorisation;
• Circumvent security mechanisms;
• Obtain unauthorised system access; or
• Interfere with website infrastructure.

Suspected unlawful activity may be investigated and may be reported to relevant authorities.

The Municipality may retain security logs and technical information where reasonably required for cybersecurity and investigative purposes.

19. Disclaimer

The website and its content are provided primarily for general information and public service purposes.

While reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate and reliable information, the Municipality does not make an absolute warranty that:

• All information is error-free;
• Information is always current;
• The website will always be available;
• Downloads will always be free of harmful components;
• External websites will remain available; or
• Website information will be appropriate for every user's particular circumstances.

Users remain responsible for verifying information where important decisions depend on it.

20. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by South African law, Greater Kokstad Municipality will not be liable for loss or damage arising solely from:

• Temporary website unavailability;
• Technical errors;
• Outdated information;
• Reliance on general website information without verification;
• External websites;
• Third-party platforms;
• Telecommunications failures;
• Cybersecurity incidents outside the Municipality's reasonable control; or
• User misuse of the website.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

21. Downloads

Documents and other files may be made available for download through the website.

Users are responsible for maintaining appropriate antivirus and security protection on their own devices.

The Municipality will endeavour to maintain a secure website but cannot guarantee that every downloaded file will be compatible with every device, operating system or application.

22. User-Submitted Content

Where users are permitted to submit comments, feedback, documents, photographs or other materials, they must ensure that they have the lawful right to submit such content.

Users may not submit content that:

• Infringes copyright;
• Contains unlawful personal information;
• Is defamatory;
• Is fraudulent;
• Is malicious;
• Contains malware;
• Violates confidentiality obligations; or
• Is otherwise unlawful.

The Municipality may remove inappropriate or unlawful content where legally and operationally appropriate.

23. Electronic Communications

Communication sent through the website or by email may constitute electronic communication.

Users acknowledge that electronic communication may be affected by:

• Delays;
• Delivery failures;
• Spam filtering;
• Network failures;
• Incorrect email addresses; or
• Other technical factors.

Where a matter is urgent or legally significant, users should confirm receipt with the relevant municipal department.

24. Records and Official Documents

Documents available on the website may include public copies of municipal records.

The online version may not always constitute the original or officially certified version.

Where an officially certified, signed or authenticated document is required, users should contact the Municipality directly.

Access to certain municipal records may also be regulated through the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2 of 2000 ("PAIA").

25. Applicable Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Use of the website is also subject to applicable national, provincial and local legislation.

26. Jurisdiction

Any dispute relating to use of this website will be dealt with according to applicable South African law and the jurisdiction of the appropriate South African courts.

Where applicable, parties may first attempt to resolve disputes through appropriate municipal complaint, administrative or alternative dispute-resolution procedures.

27. Breach of These Terms

The Municipality reserves the right, where reasonably necessary, to:

• Restrict access;
• Block IP addresses;
• Disable access to online services;
• Remove unlawful content;
• Investigate misuse;
• Preserve relevant technical evidence; or
• Report unlawful activity to appropriate authorities.

These measures may be taken where a user breaches these Terms & Conditions or threatens the security, availability or integrity of municipal systems.

28. Changes to the Website

The Municipality may:

• Add services;
• Remove services;
• Modify website functionality;
• Update information;
• Change website structure;
• Replace technologies; or
• Temporarily suspend features,

without prior notice where operationally necessary.

39. Amendments to These Terms & Conditions

Greater Kokstad Municipality may amend these Terms & Conditions from time to time.

The latest version will be published on kstad.gov.za and will display the date on which it was last updated.

Users are encouraged to review these Terms periodically.

30. Severability

If any provision of these Terms & Conditions is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

31. No Waiver

Failure by the Municipality to immediately enforce any provision of these Terms & Conditions does not constitute a waiver of its rights.

32. Contact Information

Questions regarding these Terms & Conditions may be directed to:

Greater Kokstad Municipality
Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa

Website: kokstad.gov.za
Email: gkmcommunications@kokstad.gov.za
Telephone: 0397976602

For privacy or personal-information enquiries, users should refer to the Municipality's Privacy Policy and contact the Municipality's Information Officer or Deputy Information Officer.

33. Related Policies

Users should also refer to the following website policies where applicable:

• Privacy Policy;
• Cookie Policy;
• PAIA Manual;
• POPIA Privacy Notice;
• Accessibility Statement; and
• Website Disclaimer.

These documents should be read together where relevant.