Last updated 6 July 2026
Vendor Terms
1. Becoming a vendor
To sell on Sokoni you must apply at Sell on Sokoni, complete seller verification (KYC), and receive admin approval. Sokoni may approve or reject applications at its discretion.
Approved sellers receive access to the seller portal at /seller to manage products, orders, earnings, and settings.
2. Seller verification (KYC)
Before your shop goes live, you must provide:
- Seller type: individual / sole proprietor or registered business (CIPC)
- Company registration number (required for business sellers)
- VAT number where applicable
- Bank account holder name, bank name, account number, branch code (for payouts)
- Documents: CIPC certificate (business), ID document, bank statement, proof of bank account, VAT document where applicable
- Ship-from address and contact phone for vendor-direct fulfilment, or Sokoni hub mode
- Handling days (1 to 14) for dispatch commitments
Sokoni staff manually review submissions. Status may be pending, approved, or rejected with notes. Verified sellers may receive a badge on their public shop page.
3. Commission and fees
Sokoni charges a commission on each product line sold, deducted before your payout. The default rate is 15%. Category-specific rates apply, including (examples):
- 8%: Electronics, Appliances, Gaming & Media, Automotive
- 10%: Baby & Toddler, Toys, Sport, DIY, Groceries, Pets, Books, Office, Camping, Liquor
- 15%: Beauty, Health, Clothing, Homeware, Garden (default for uncategorised lines)
Commission applies to product lines only, not to customer shipping charges.
3.1 Seller portal subscription
New approved sellers receive 3 months free portal access. Thereafter the seller portal subscription is R150 per month to keep your shop active, unless exempted by Sokoni.
3.2 Optional advertising
Paid homepage banner placements and pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns are billed separately from commission, from your vendor ad wallet.
3.3 Shipping economics
Customers pay courier rates (Bob Go) plus a Sokoni handling fee (currently 5%) at checkout. Vendors do not pay shipping costs from their payout.
4. Listings and pricing
You must list accurate descriptions, images (up to four per product where supported), stock levels, and prices inclusive of VAT where you are VAT registered. Products may require Sokoni catalog review before appearing on the storefront. Misleading listings breach the CPA and may result in suspension.
You may set return eligibility and return window days per product where the platform allows. Default return window is 7 days unless overridden on the listing.
5. Fulfilment and shipping
Choose one fulfilment mode at registration:
- Vendor direct: couriers collect from your ship-from address. Provide a complete address and contact phone once; we use it for every collection.
- Sokoni hub (Pinetown, KZN): you send stock to our fulfilment point. No ship-from address is required on your profile for hub mode.
Dispatch within your stated handling time. You must honour CPA return rights and cooperate with Sokoni on buyer returns and support. Repeated late dispatch or stock-outs may trigger SLA penalties and reduced visibility.
6. Payouts
When a shopper pays, Sokoni records your net amount per line after commission. Settlements stay on hold for 14 days after payment (or after delivery when tracked) to cover returns and chargebacks. After the hold, eligible amounts are included in Sokoni's fortnightly payout run (typically the 1st and 15th of each month) and sent to your verified bank account via Paystack transfer or EFT, minus commission, portal fees where applicable, SLA penalties, and chargebacks.
You are responsible for keeping bank details accurate in the seller portal.
7. Acceptable use and prohibited products
You may not use Sokoni to:
- Sell illegal goods or services under South African law
- Sell counterfeit, stolen, or infringing items
- Sell weapons, ammunition, or unlicensed medicines
- Misrepresent products, prices, or stock to manipulate buyers or the platform
- Circumvent commission, move buyers off-platform, or abuse ad or wallet systems
- Upload malware, scrape buyer data, or harass Sokoni staff or customers
Sokoni may remove listings, withhold payouts, or suspend vendors immediately for fraud or serious policy breaches. SLA penalty disputes must be opened within 7 days in the seller portal.
8. Buyer disputes and returns
Buyers request returns through their account. Sokoni support mediates. You must cooperate with approved returns. See our Returns & Refunds Policy for the shopper-facing process.
9. Termination
Either party may terminate with notice. Outstanding orders must still be fulfilled. Sokoni may suspend vendors immediately for fraud or serious policy breaches.
10. Contact
Seller support: vendors@sokoni.co.za