Rules of Auction

These rules apply to every auction conducted on Wildlife Marketplace and are published in terms of regulation 21 of the Consumer Protection Act regulations (GNR.293 of 2011). They are available to the public from the moment a lot is listed — at least 24 hours before bidding commences. They must be read together with our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

1. The auctioneer

Wildlife Marketplace operates this platform as an online auction within the meaning of the CPA auction regulations. Auctions are conducted electronically; there is no physical auction floor. We maintain the bidders' record required by regulation 26 and the vendor's roll required by regulation 28, which is available for inspection on request, free of charge.

2. Bidder registration (required before bidding)

• You may not place a bid unless you have (a) completed full bidder verification (FICA identity and residence verification) and (b) registered for the specific auction lot.
• Registration records your full names, identity number, physical address, login identity, IP address and device details, the means by which payment will be effected (escrow — see rule 4), and your acceptance of these rules. Your acceptance constitutes your signature of the bidders' record entry as required by regulation 26(2), given electronically under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.
• Bids may only be placed on your own behalf. Bidding as an agent for another person is not supported on this platform.
• Lots involving Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) require a valid permit upload at registration; such registrations are reviewed by an administrator before bidding is enabled.
• You must be 18 years or older.

3. Bidding

• Each lot displays its starting bid and minimum bid increment. Bids below the minimum are rejected.
• A lot may be subject to a reserve price. Where a reserve applies, the lot will not be sold below it.
• Neither the seller nor anyone on the seller's behalf may bid on the seller's own lot.
• An auction closes at the displayed end time. A short technical grace period (approximately 5 seconds) applies to accommodate network latency; bids arriving after it are rejected.
• A bid, once placed, may not be withdrawn.
• A lot with a "Buy Now" price may be ended immediately by a bid at or above that price.

4. Payment and escrow

• All payments are effected exclusively through TradeSafe, an independent escrow provider. The winning bidder must complete escrow checkout after the auction closes; funds are held in escrow and released to the seller only after the buyer confirms satisfactory handover.
• Prices are in South African Rand. The buyer pays the winning bid amount; escrow fees are borne by the seller.
• Failure by the winning bidder to complete payment within the stated deadline may result in cancellation of the sale and suspension from future auctions.

5. Delivery, collection and liability

• Handover of live game is subject to the permits, transport and welfare requirements described in our Terms of Use. The buyer inspects at collection before confirming release of the escrow funds.
• In accordance with regulation 30(6), our liability for delivery of goods purchased on auction is not excluded; escrow protections apply where a seller fails to deliver.

6. Records

The bidders' record, vendor's roll and all auction records are retained for at least five years (exceeding the three-year minimum in the regulations, in line with FICA section 22). Bidder identity records are processed as described in our Privacy Policy.