Terms and Conditions of Use
Last Updated: 20 August 2026
Please read these Terms carefully. They govern your use of this Website and transactions concluded through it.
1. Introduction
1.1 These terms and conditions (“the Terms”) govern your access to and use of https://crimsa.ac.za/ (“the Website”).
1.2 The Website is owned and operated by The Criminological Society of Africa, registration number 2022/336341/08 (“CRIMSA”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
1.3 By accessing or using the Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these Terms and agree to be bound by them to the extent applicable to your use of the Website.
1.4 Where you purchase membership, register for a conference or event or conclude another transaction through the Website, you may also be required to confirm your acceptance of these Terms by selecting the relevant acceptance box before completing the transaction.
1.5 If any specific membership, conference, event or other transaction terms published on the Website conflict with these Terms, the specific terms will prevail in relation to that transaction to the extent of the conflict.
2. Purpose of the Website
2.1 The Website provides information about CRIMSA and its activities and enables users, where applicable, to:
2.1.1 purchase or renew membership;
2.1.2 create and access member accounts;
2.1.3 access or download membership certificates;
2.1.4 register for conferences and events;
2.1.5 access publications and other resources; and
2.1.6 submit enquiries to CRIMSA.
2.2 CRIMSA may change, add to, suspend or discontinue Website functions from time to time.
3. Membership
3.1 The membership categories, eligibility requirements, fees and benefits offered by CRIMSA are described on the membership section of the Website.
3.2 Unless otherwise stated on the Website, membership commences when CRIMSA receives payment and continues until 31 December of that year.
3.3 Membership does not renew automatically. A member who wishes to remain a member must renew membership in accordance with the process made available by CRIMSA.
3.4 Any membership cancellation or refund terms displayed on the membership page at the time of purchase form part of these Terms and apply subject to applicable law.
3.5 If payment has been successfully made but a membership or member account has not been activated, the member should contact CRIMSA at crimsasouthafrica@gmail.com.
3.6 Any suspension or termination of membership itself will be dealt with in accordance with CRIMSA’s applicable governing documents and applicable law.
4. Member Accounts
4.1 Member accounts are personal to the registered member and may not be transferred or shared with another person.
4.2 You are responsible for keeping your username, password and other account credentials confidential and for taking reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised access to your account.
4.3 You must notify CRIMSA promptly if you become aware of or reasonably suspect unauthorised use of your account.
4.4 CRIMSA may temporarily suspend access to an account where reasonably necessary to investigate suspected unauthorised access, protect Website security, address a breach of these Terms or comply with a legal obligation.
4.5 Nothing in these Terms makes you responsible for unauthorised account access to the extent that it results from a security failure attributable to CRIMSA.
5. Payments
5.1 Payments made through or in connection with the Website may be made by PayFast, electronic funds transfer or cash deposit at a bank, where those options are made available.
5.2 Payment is regarded as received when the relevant funds have been received in CRIMSA’s bank account or confirmed in its PayFast account.
5.3 Card payments are processed by PayFast or another payment provider identified at checkout. CRIMSA does not receive or store your payment-card details.
5.4 You are responsible for ensuring that payment information and any payment reference provided by you are accurate.
5.5 If you believe that a payment has been made but has not been correctly allocated, you should contact CRIMSA at crimsasouthafrica@gmail.com and provide reasonable proof of payment.
6. Conferences and Events
6.1 Conference and event information, including dates, venues, programmes, fees and registration requirements, will be published on the Website or otherwise communicated by CRIMSA.
6.2 Unless different terms are expressly stated for a particular event, a registered attendee may cancel their registration or substitute another attendee by notifying CRIMSA at least two months before the conference or event start date.
6.3 Where a cancellation satisfying clause 6.2 is accepted, CRIMSA will refund the registration amount paid, less any fees or costs already incurred by CRIMSA in connection with that registration.
6.4 A cancellation request received less than two months before the conference or event start date will be considered by CRIMSA having regard to the circumstances and applicable law.
6.5 A proposed substitution must be communicated to CRIMSA and is subject to the substitute attendee satisfying any applicable registration or eligibility requirements.
6.6 CRIMSA may make reasonable changes to conference or event programmes, speakers, schedules, venues or associated activities where circumstances require this.
6.7 If CRIMSA cancels, postpones or materially changes an event, it will communicate the applicable arrangements to registered attendees and deal with registration fees in accordance with applicable law and any event-specific terms.
7. Permitted Use of Website Content
7.1 Unless otherwise stated, the text, logos, photographs, graphics, newsletters, publications and other material appearing on the Website are owned by CRIMSA or are used by CRIMSA with the permission of the relevant rights holder.
7.2 You may view, download, print, quote and reproduce reasonable portions of Website content for personal, educational, academic or other non-commercial purposes, provided that:
7.2.1 CRIMSA or the relevant author or rights holder is appropriately acknowledged;
7.2.2 the material is not altered in a manner that is misleading or prejudicial to CRIMSA or the rights holder; and
7.2.3 the use does not suggest endorsement by or affiliation with CRIMSA where none exists.
7.3 You may not use Website content for commercial purposes without the prior written permission of CRIMSA or the relevant rights holder.
7.4 Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of any intellectual-property right to you.
8. Prohibited Use
8.1 You may not use the Website:
8.1.1 for an unlawful or fraudulent purpose;
8.1.2 to interfere with the security, integrity or proper operation of the Website;
8.1.3 to gain or attempt to gain unauthorised access to an account, system or information;
8.1.4 to distribute malicious software or other harmful code;
8.1.5 to impersonate another person or misrepresent your authority or affiliation;
8.1.6 to harvest contact details for unsolicited marketing; or
8.1.7 to commercially scrape, reproduce or exploit Website content without CRIMSA’s permission.
9. Website Content and Disclaimer
9.1 Information made available on the Website is provided for general informational, academic and professional-interest purposes.
9.2 Website content does not constitute legal, professional or other advice and should not be relied upon as advice concerning your particular circumstances.
9.3 CRIMSA endeavours to provide useful and accurate information, but information on the Website may from time to time contain errors, omissions or material that has become outdated.
9.4 To the extent permitted by law, CRIMSA does not warrant that Website content is complete, accurate, current or suitable for any particular purpose.
9.5 You remain responsible for evaluating information obtained through the Website and, where appropriate, obtaining relevant professional advice.
10. Website Availability and Security
10.1 CRIMSA does not warrant that the Website will at all times be uninterrupted, error-free or free from technical faults or harmful components.
10.2 The Website may be unavailable from time to time as a result of maintenance, technical problems, security measures or circumstances outside CRIMSA’s reasonable control.
10.3 CRIMSA may take reasonable steps to restrict or suspend Website functionality where necessary to protect the Website, its users or its systems.
11. Third-Party Websites and Services
11.1 The Website may contain links to websites and services operated by third parties.
11.2 Links are provided for convenience and information and do not necessarily constitute CRIMSA’s endorsement of the third party, its website, its products or its services.
11.3 CRIMSA does not control third-party websites and is not responsible for their content, availability, security or privacy practices.
11.4 Your use of a third-party website or service is subject to the terms and policies applicable to that third party.
12. Limitation of Liability
12.1 Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability or right that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
12.2 Subject to clause 12.1 and to the fullest extent permitted by law, CRIMSA will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss arising solely from:
12.2.1 temporary Website unavailability or interruption;
12.2.2 inaccurate, incomplete or outdated general Website information;
12.2.3 the content or operation of a third-party website or service;
12.2.4 loss of data resulting from circumstances outside CRIMSA’s reasonable control; or
12.2.5 unauthorised access to a user account that was not caused by CRIMSA’s failure to take reasonable security measures.
12.3 Nothing in this clause limits CRIMSA’s obligations in respect of personal information under POPIA or any other obligation imposed by applicable law.
13. Privacy
13.1 CRIMSA processes personal information collected through the Website in accordance with its Privacy Policy.
13.2 The Privacy Policy is available on the Website and forms part of the information governing your interaction with CRIMSA through the Website.
14. Changes to These Terms
14.1 CRIMSA may amend these Terms from time to time where reasonably necessary to reflect changes to the Website, CRIMSA’s activities or applicable law.
14.2 The current version of the Terms will be published on the Website together with the date on which it was most recently updated.
14.3 Where a change is material to registered members, CRIMSA may also notify them by email.
14.4 Unless required by law, an amendment will not retrospectively alter the substantive terms of a transaction that was completed before the amendment took effect.
15. Electronic Communications
15.1 When you communicate with CRIMSA electronically, including through the Website or by email, you agree that communications may be sent and received electronically.
15.2 A communication sent to the email address supplied by you will be regarded as having been directed to your chosen electronic address unless you notify CRIMSA that the address has changed.
16. CRIMSA Details
16.1 The Website is owned and operated by:
The Criminological Society of Africa
Registration number: 2022/336341/08
Website: https://crimsa.ac.za/
Physical address: University of South Africa (UNISA), Preller Street, Mukleneuk, Pretoria, Gauteng, 0002
Email: crimsasouthafrica@gmail.com
16.2 Enquiries or complaints relating to the Website, membership, payments or member accounts may be sent to crimsasouthafrica@gmail.com.
17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
17.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
17.2 Any dispute arising from the use of the Website or a transaction governed by these Terms will be subject to the jurisdiction of a competent South African court, subject to any rights that a person may have under applicable consumer or other legislation.
18. General
18.1 If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be treated as severable to the extent necessary and the remaining provisions will continue to operate.
18.2 A failure by CRIMSA to enforce a provision of these Terms on one occasion does not constitute a waiver of that provision.
18.3 These Terms, together with any transaction-specific terms expressly incorporated into them, constitute the terms governing the use of the Website and the relevant transaction.