Legal, Tax & Transparency
Stronger Together – United We Stand is committed to operating openly, responsibly and with a clear separation between free community support, commercial advertising, voluntary contributions and charitable giving.
Legal Structure
Stronger Together – United We Stand is currently operated as a sole proprietorship in South Africa under the trading name Stronger Together – United We Stand. A sole proprietorship is not a separate legal person from its proprietor. The proprietor is responsible for the business, contractual obligations, tax affairs and liabilities.
A dedicated account may be maintained for project-related receipts and payments so that records can be kept separately and transparently. Personal banking details and identifying information are not published on this website.
Free Community Support
Access to public community support is not conditional on payment, donation, sponsorship or purchase of any service. People may ask for help, read or submit stories, use public resources and participate in available community support without having to purchase advertising or make a financial contribution.
Support is free. Advertising is commercial. Research participation is voluntary. One does not buy access to the other.
Commercial Advertising, Sponsorship & Promotional Services
Payments made by organisations for advertising, promotional exposure, directory placement, sponsored content, event sponsorship or related commercial benefits are treated as commercial transactions where services or benefits are provided in return.
Commercial invoices should describe these transactions as advertising, sponsorship and/or promotional services and should not describe them as charitable donations where a commercial benefit is supplied.
All sponsorship and support arrangements are promotional or community-support arrangements only and do not confer ownership, equity, voting rights, governance rights, management authority or control over Stronger Together – United We Stand.
Advertising Standards
Sponsored placements should be clearly identified. Payment does not guarantee endorsement or editorial approval. Organisations may be reviewed before listing. Misleading medical claims, unsupported cure claims or deceptive promotional material are not accepted. Health-related advertising should comply with applicable South African legal and professional requirements.
Voluntary Contributions
Voluntary contributions made without a commercial benefit in return are kept conceptually separate from advertising income. They may be used to help cover the real operating costs of Stronger Together – United We Stand, including website hosting, administration, moderation, content research, resource verification, communications, outreach, community initiatives and day-to-day management.
Making a voluntary contribution is optional and is never a condition for receiving public support, accessing resources, reading or submitting stories, or participating in available community support. Unless a specific contribution legally qualifies otherwise, contributors should not assume that payments are tax-deductible charitable donations.
The tax treatment of any receipt depends on its substance and applicable South African law. Records of voluntary contributions will be retained for accounting and transparency purposes.
Direct Community Assistance
Where Stronger Together assists a specific person with practical needs such as mobility equipment, food, transport or other essential support, the preferred approach may be to pay a verified supplier directly rather than transferring cash to an individual. Relevant quotes, invoices, proof of payment and beneficiary records should be retained where appropriate.
Direct assistance to an individual is not automatically a Section 18A-deductible donation.
Charitable Giving & Section 18A
Where charitable giving is intended to qualify for a South African income-tax deduction, donations should preferably be made to or through an organisation that is appropriately approved to issue valid Section 18A receipts for the relevant activity.
NPO registration alone does not automatically mean that an organisation may issue Section 18A receipts. PBO status, NPO registration and Section 18A approval are distinct concepts and should be verified separately.
Donations Tax
South African donations tax is generally a tax on the donor, subject to available exemptions and specific rules. The annual exemption and other thresholds may change over time. Material donations should be reviewed against current SARS requirements before payment.
Foreign Humanitarian & Animal-Welfare Organisations
Foreign charitable status does not automatically create South African PBO or Section 18A status. Significant foreign donations should therefore be reviewed for recipient legitimacy, tax treatment, record keeping and any exchange-control or other legal requirements that may apply.
Ukraine Humanitarian & Animal-Welfare Pledge
5% of qualifying funds received by Stronger Together – United We Stand is intended to be allocated to carefully verified humanitarian and animal-welfare causes supporting people and animals affected by the war in Ukraine.
Amounts may be accumulated and transferred periodically. Recipient organisations may be reviewed for legitimacy, transparency and continued alignment with the purpose of the pledge. Where practical, the recipient organisation and amount donated may be disclosed publicly.
Income Tax & Record Keeping
As a sole proprietorship, business income and allowable business expenditure form part of the proprietor’s tax affairs. Proper records should be maintained for income, expenses, supplier payments, community assistance, donations, sponsorship agreements, invoices and supporting correspondence.
VAT
VAT will only be charged where Stronger Together – United We Stand is registered or legally required to register for VAT. VAT registration thresholds and requirements can change, so current SARS guidance should be checked when turnover approaches the applicable threshold.
Financial Transparency
Where appropriate, summary information regarding commercial income, voluntary contributions, operating expenditure, community assistance, pledged charitable allocations and amounts donated to verified recipient organisations may be published on the website.
Personal information, confidential commercial information, banking details and information protected by privacy obligations will not be disclosed without an appropriate legal basis or consent.
Volunteer & Community Support
Volunteer support may include companionship, caregiver assistance, transport, food support, skills-based volunteering, equipment assistance, animal-welfare support and community events. Where vulnerable people, children, home visits, transport, money or sensitive information are involved, appropriate verification, consent, safeguarding and role boundaries should be used.
Medical & Professional Disclaimer
Information shared on this website is for general information, lived-experience support and community connection. It is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, counselling, therapy, legal advice, financial advice or other professional services. People should seek qualified professional help where appropriate.
Privacy, POPIA & Submitted Stories
Personal information should be handled in accordance with applicable South African privacy requirements, including POPIA where applicable. Stories may be edited to remove or change identifying details when requested or where appropriate. Submission of a story does not automatically guarantee publication.
Research, Surveys & Clinical Trials
Any research, survey or clinical-trial opportunity displayed through the platform should be clearly separated from ordinary advertising and community support. Participation must be voluntary. Advertisers and sponsors do not purchase access to private health information, and private community data is not sold to advertisers.
Transparency Commitment
Stronger Together – United We Stand aims to maintain clear records, explain how money is handled, distinguish commercial income from charitable giving, verify organisations before significant charitable payments and disclose meaningful information where doing so is lawful and appropriate.
Read our Privacy Policy for information about how personal information, support enquiries and submitted stories are handled.
Important: This page provides a plain-language overview of the intended operating approach. It is not a substitute for personalised legal, tax, accounting or regulatory advice.