DRAFT (revamp 2026-07) — for SA attorney review only. Not legal advice. Not for publication.
Placeholders marked [TBD: …] require factual confirmation. Items marked [ATTORNEY-REQUIRED: …] require legal advice before this document may be finalised or published.
All statutory references in this draft are indicative and must be verified by counsel against the current text of each Act before any reliance or publication.
This Payout Policy ("Policy") governs how eRunna calculates, verifies, and transfers earnings to runners and merchants (together, "payees") who use the eRunna platform. It forms part of and should be read together with the eRunna Terms of Service, the Runner Agreement, and the Merchant Agreement (see "Related policies" below).
1. Scope and payee types
This Policy applies to two categories of payee:
- Runners — individuals who accept and complete errands or deliveries on the platform and receive a runner fee per completed job.
- Merchants — businesses or individuals who list goods or services on the eRunna marketplace and receive order proceeds less the applicable platform commission.
Where a provision applies to one payee type only, this is stated explicitly. All other provisions apply to both categories.
2. Earnings — how amounts are calculated
2.1 Runner earnings
- A runner's gross fee for each completed errand is determined by the platform's pricing engine at the time the errand is accepted. The fee is displayed in the runner-facing app before acceptance.
- eRunna deducts its platform service fee and any applicable in-app charges (as notified in the app or in the Runner Agreement) to arrive at the net runner payout amount.
- Disputed or cancelled errands, or errands reversed under the Refunds & Payments Policy, may result in a deduction from a runner's available balance.
2.2 Merchant earnings
- Merchant order proceeds are the customer-paid order value less the eRunna platform commission rate applicable to the merchant's account tier at the time of the order.
- Commission rates are set out in the Merchant Agreement and may be updated with notice as described in that agreement.
- Refunded or reversed orders are deducted from the merchant's available balance. Where the balance is insufficient, the shortfall becomes immediately due and owing.
2.3 Earnings ledger
Payees may view their running balance and transaction history in the eRunna app. The ledger is generated from platform records and is the authoritative record for payout purposes.
3. Payee verification and know-your-payee requirements
Because payouts involve the movement of money, eRunna is required to apply customer due diligence ("CDD") measures to payees before releasing funds. These requirements arise from eRunna's obligations as a financial-services adjacent platform and from applicable anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism ("AML-CFT") frameworks.
[ATTORNEY-REQUIRED: FICA accountable-institution status — counsel must confirm whether eRunna constitutes an "accountable institution" under Schedule 1 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 ("FICA") in respect of its payout/money-movement operations. If so, the full suite of FICA obligations applies (CDD, enhanced due diligence for higher-risk payees, record-keeping, reporting). If not, counsel must advise on any alternative AML-CFT obligations and the extent to which the below provisions should be retained, amended, or removed. This section must not be published in its current form without that determination.]
3.1 Identification and verification
- All payees must complete eRunna's identity-verification process before a payout may be initiated. This process includes, at minimum, submission of a valid South African identity document (RSA ID card, RSA ID book, or valid passport) and, for merchants, proof of business registration where applicable.
- Payees must provide accurate banking details matching their verified identity. Payouts will not be released to accounts in a name that does not correspond to the verified payee identity.
- eRunna reserves the right to request additional documentation to satisfy its CDD obligations, including proof of address, source-of-funds information, or business ownership confirmation. Failure to supply requested documentation may result in a hold on the payee's account pending resolution.
- [ATTORNEY-REQUIRED: Enhanced due diligence ("EDD") thresholds — if eRunna is a FICA accountable institution, counsel must advise on: (a) the specific CDD and EDD triggers applicable to payout volumes; (b) whether any payee categories (e.g., politically exposed persons) require additional screening; and (c) the required screening mechanisms and record formats.]
3.2 Merchant business verification
- Merchant payees that are juristic persons (companies, close corporations, or trusts) must supply: registered entity name, company or CC registration number, details of beneficial owner(s) holding [ATTORNEY-REQUIRED: confirm the applicable beneficial-ownership disclosure threshold under FICA and its regulations — do not state a fixed percentage until confirmed] of the entity, and such other information as eRunna may require to satisfy its CDD obligations.
- [TBD: confirm the exact documentation checklist and threshold for beneficial-ownership disclosure that will be applied operationally.]
4. Requesting a payout
- Minimum payout amount: R25.00 (subject to change; the current minimum is displayed in the app at the time of request).
- Payouts are requested in-app. Payees must have completed identity verification (section 3) before a payout request may be submitted.
- A payee's available balance reflects earnings from settled, non-disputed transactions. Amounts held in respect of open disputes, pending refunds, or compliance reviews are not available for payout.
- eRunna may place a short settlement hold on newly completed transactions before making the amounts available for payout. [TBD: confirm the operational settlement-hold period, e.g., 24–48 hours.]
- Payees may not assign, cede, pledge, or otherwise encumber their right to payout earnings without eRunna's prior written consent.
5. Payout methods and timing
- Paystack Transfers (Instant): Where a payee's verified bank account is linked via Paystack, transfers are typically processed on the same business day. Timing is subject to Paystack's processing windows and the receiving bank's processing times, which are outside eRunna's control.
- Standard bank transfer (EFT): Bank transfers to verified South African bank accounts are typically processed within 3–5 business days from approval of the payout request. Timing may vary during public holidays.
- Payout fees: Fees may apply per payout method. The applicable fee, if any, is displayed in the app before the payee confirms the payout request.
- eRunna processes payouts in South African Rand (ZAR) only. Cross-currency payouts are not currently supported.
- [TBD: confirm whether additional payout methods (e.g., mobile money) are planned and update this section before publication.]
6. Compliance holds and suspicious-transaction reporting
eRunna monitors payout activity for indicators of money laundering, fraud, or other financial crime. The following applies:
- Compliance holds: eRunna may place a hold on a payout — without prior notice and for such period as is reasonably necessary — where it has grounds to suspect that the transaction may be unusual, suspicious, or in breach of applicable law. eRunna will notify the payee of a hold as soon as it is lawful and practicable to do so.
- Suspicious-transaction and threshold reporting: [ATTORNEY-REQUIRED: FICA reporting obligations — if eRunna is a FICA accountable institution, counsel must confirm: (a) the applicable cash-threshold reporting threshold (currently R49 999.99 per FICA regulations — confirm current amount and applicability to platform payouts); (b) the suspicious- and unusual-transaction reporting obligations to the Financial Intelligence Centre ("FIC"); and (c) the tipping-off prohibition under FICA, which prevents eRunna from disclosing to a payee that a report has been made or is under consideration. This section must be finalised by counsel before publication.]
- Tipping-off restriction: Where eRunna is subject to a reporting obligation or a directive from the FIC or another competent authority, eRunna may be prohibited by law from disclosing to the payee the existence or content of that report or directive. A hold placed in these circumstances does not entitle the payee to disclosure of the specific basis for the hold.
- Account suspension: Where eRunna reasonably suspects financial crime or a material breach of this Policy, it may suspend the payee's account and refer the matter to the relevant authorities. Amounts held in a suspended account remain subject to any applicable legal freeze or court order.
7. Record-keeping
- eRunna retains records of all payout transactions, payee identity documents, and associated CDD records for the period required by applicable law.
- [ATTORNEY-REQUIRED: FICA record-keeping period — confirm the applicable statutory retention period for CDD and transaction records under FICA (currently 5 years from the date of the transaction or the end of the business relationship — confirm with counsel). Cross-reference eRunna's Data Retention Policy for alignment.]
- Payees may request a statement of their payout history via the in-app earnings screen or by contacting support@erunna.app.
8. Tax responsibilities
- Each payee is solely responsible for determining and discharging their own income tax, provisional tax, VAT (where applicable), and any other fiscal obligations arising from earnings received through the eRunna platform. This includes registration with the South African Revenue Service ("SARS") where required.
- eRunna does not withhold employees' tax ("PAYE") from runner payouts. This position is subject to the runner classification determination described in the eRunna Terms of Service. [ATTORNEY-REQUIRED: Confirm whether, following the runner employment-vs-contractor classification determination, any withholding obligation arises for eRunna as a paying party, including any third-party reporting obligations to SARS (e.g., IT3 certificate issuance).]
- eRunna will provide payees with a payout history report on request to assist with tax record-keeping; this does not constitute a tax certificate or SARS-compliant tax document. Payees should consult a registered tax practitioner for advice specific to their circumstances.
- eRunna reserves the right to deduct or withhold amounts from payouts to the extent required by any applicable tax law or directive from SARS or another competent authority.
- [TBD: confirm whether eRunna will issue any form of annual earnings statement (e.g., IT3(e) certificate) to runners and merchants, and if so, the timeline and method of delivery.]
9. Payout disputes and corrections
- If a payee believes their earnings balance or a payout amount is incorrect, they must notify eRunna within 30 days of the relevant transaction date by contacting support@erunna.app with the transaction details.
- eRunna will investigate and respond within a reasonable time. During the investigation, the disputed amount may be placed on hold.
- Where eRunna determines that an overpayment has been made (including as a result of a reversed or disputed errand), the payee authorises eRunna to deduct the overpaid amount from future earnings. Where no future earnings are available, the amount is due and payable within [TBD: confirm the repayment deadline, e.g., 14 days] of written demand.
- This clause does not limit any additional rights eRunna may have under the Terms of Service or applicable law.
10. Changes to this Policy
eRunna may update this Policy from time to time. Where a change is material, we will notify payees by in-app notification or email at least 14 days before the change takes effect (or such shorter period as may be required in an emergency or to comply with applicable law). Continued use of the platform after the effective date of any change constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
11. Contact
For queries about this Policy or your payout account:
- Email: support@erunna.app
- Telephone: 010 140 6554
- Postal / correspondence: 1 Wedgewood Link Rd, Bryanston, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2191 (by appointment only; no public walk-ins)
- Information Officer (POPIA enquiries): [TBD: name and contact details of the designated Information Officer]
Related policies
- Terms of Service — master agreement governing use of the eRunna platform; runner classification and liability provisions.
- Runner Terms — runner-specific obligations, fee schedule, and operational rules.
- Refunds & Payments Policy — customer refund process; merchant chargeback and reversal obligations that affect payout balances.
- Privacy Policy — how payee identity and financial data are collected, used, and protected under POPIA.
- Data Retention Policy — statutory and operational retention periods for payee records.
- [TBD: add hyperlinks to the Runner Agreement and Merchant Agreement once those documents are available in this directory.]