Hosting Usage Policy

Last updated July 1, 2026

1. Introduction

This Hosting Terms & Acceptable Use Policy outlines the conditions under which we provide website hosting services. By purchasing or using our hosting services, you agree to comply with this policy and our general Terms of Service.

Our hosting solutions are provided through trusted third-party infrastructure providers. While we manage your hosting account and provide support, the physical hosting infrastructure is maintained by our upstream hosting partners.

2. Hosting Service

Our hosting services are available to anyone who wishes to host a website or email with us, whether the website was built by us, by you, or by another third party.

Hosting services may include:

• Secure web hosting
• Email hosting (where applicable)
• SSL certificate support
• Website backups (where included)
• Technical support relating to hosting
• Server monitoring and maintenance

Hosting features vary depending on the selected hosting package.

3. Acceptable Use

Our hosting services may only be used for lawful, legitimate, and responsible purposes. Customers are expected to use their hosting accounts in a way that does not harm our systems, other users, or third parties.

The following activities are strictly prohibited:

• Hosting, publishing, or distributing illegal content, including material that violates any applicable local, national, or international law.
• Copyright infringement, software piracy, or the unauthorised use or distribution of images, text, video, music, or other protected content.
• Uploading or transmitting malware, viruses, ransomware, spyware, trojans, malicious scripts, or any other harmful code.
• Operating phishing websites, impersonation pages, or any fraudulent activity intended to deceive users or collect sensitive information unlawfully.
• Sending spam, bulk unsolicited email, or using the hosting service for mass messaging without proper consent and compliance with applicable laws.
• Hosting adult, explicit, or obscene content where such material is restricted or prohibited by law, regulation, or our hosting provider’s policies.
• Publishing hate speech, abusive material, harassment, threats, or content that promotes discrimination, violence, or unlawful conduct.
• Using server resources for cryptocurrency mining or any other activity that places unnecessary strain on the hosting environment.
• Using the hosting account primarily as a file storage, download, or backup service unrelated to the operation of a website.
• Engaging in any activity that may compromise server stability, reduce performance, create security risks, or interfere with the services of other customers.

We reserve the right to investigate any suspected misuse of our hosting services and to suspend, restrict, or remove any website or account that is found to be in breach of this policy.

4. Resource Usage & Fair Use

Our hosting environment is designed for normal business and informational websites.

To maintain reliable service for all customers, websites must not consume excessive server resources, including:

• CPU usage
• Memory usage
• Disk space
• Bandwidth
• Database resources
• Email sending limits

If a website consistently exceeds reasonable usage levels, we may request that the website be optimized, upgraded to a higher hosting package, or moved to a more suitable hosting solution.

5. Website Security

Website security responsibilities depend on who built and maintains the website. If the website was built by the customer or by another provider, the website owner is responsible for maintaining its security, including:

• Keeping CMS platforms updated.
• Updating plugins and themes.
• Using strong passwords.
• Maintaining secure administrator accounts.
• Removing unused software.

If we built the website and you have engaged us to maintain it under a web maintenance agreement, we will carry out the agreed maintenance tasks as part of that service. The scope of maintenance will depend on the level of support purchased and may include updates, security checks, plugin management, and general website upkeep.

Where outdated or compromised websites create a security risk to the server or other customers, we may temporarily suspend the affected website until the issue has been resolved.

6. Backups

Where backups are included in your hosting plan, they are provided as a convenience only.

Although reasonable efforts are made to maintain reliable backups, we cannot guarantee that backups will always be available, current, complete or recoverable. Customers remain responsible for maintaining their own independent copies of all website files, databases, emails, and other important data.

7. Email Service Usage

Where email hosting is included as part of your hosting package, the service is provided for normal business communication only. Email accounts are intended for day-to-day correspondence such as client communication, internal business use, enquiries, and other legitimate website-related messaging.

To protect server performance, email deliverability, and the reputation of our hosting infrastructure, the following rules apply:

• Email accounts may not be used to send spam, unsolicited bulk email, or any form of mass marketing without proper consent.
• Purchased, rented, scraped, or otherwise obtained mailing lists are strictly prohibited.
• Email campaigns must comply with applicable anti-spam laws and must only be sent to recipients who have given permission to receive them.
• Sending limits may apply to individual accounts, domains, or servers in order to prevent abuse and protect email reputation.
• Customers are responsible for ensuring that their mailboxes do not exceed the storage limits included in their hosting plan.
• Large attachments, automated mailing systems, and high-volume outbound email activity may be restricted or blocked if they affect service stability.
• Customers must configure and maintain proper email authentication records where required, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to help improve deliverability and reduce the risk of messages being marked as spam.
• We do not guarantee that emails sent from hosted accounts will always be delivered to the recipient’s inbox, as delivery can be affected by third-party spam filters, recipient mail servers, and sender reputation.
• Customers are responsible for monitoring their email accounts for bounced messages, delivery issues, and mailbox overuse.

If an email account, domain, or hosting service is found to be sending spam, generating excessive complaints, or otherwise harming server reputation, we may temporarily suspend or permanently restrict email services without notice where necessary to protect the wider hosting environment.

Repeated abuse, failure to comply with sending limits, or misuse of email services may result in suspension of the affected account or termination of hosting services.

8. Domain Names

Where we register or manage a domain name on your behalf:

• The domain may be registered in your name, your business name, or in the name of another person or entity you nominate at the time of registration.
• The domain remains subject to the rules and requirements of the relevant registry and registrar.
• Renewal fees must be paid before the renewal date to avoid interruption, suspension, or loss of the domain.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that all registrant, administrative, and billing details remain accurate and up to date.
• If a domain is registered in a nominated name, you confirm that you have the authority to do so and that any transfer or change of ownership instructions are properly authorised.
• Domain transfers may be requested at any time, subject to applicable registry rules, account verification, and a minimum of 30 days’ written notice.
• Transfer requests may be delayed or declined where there are outstanding fees, unresolved disputes, security concerns, or registry restrictions.
• We are not responsible for the loss of a domain due to non-payment, incorrect registrant details, failure to respond to renewal notices, or circumstances outside our control.
• Any transfer-out, release, or change of ownership may be subject to administrative fees where permitted by law or by the relevant registrar.

9. Third-Party Infrastructure

Our hosting services rely on reputable third-party hosting providers.

While we carefully select our providers, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability of services due to circumstances beyond our control, including:

• Data centre failures
• Network outages
• Power interruptions
• Scheduled maintenance
• Upstream provider issues
• Internet-wide service disruptions

Where such issues occur, we will work with our infrastructure provider to restore services as quickly as reasonably possible.

10. Service Availability

We make every reasonable effort to provide stable and dependable hosting services with as little downtime as possible. However, from time to time, short interruptions may happen while we carry out necessary work to keep the service secure and running properly.

These interruptions may be caused by:

• Software updates
• Security maintenance
• Hardware replacement
• Emergency maintenance
• Infrastructure upgrades

Whenever possible, any planned maintenance will be carried out outside normal business hours to reduce disruption to your website and users.

11. Suspension & Termination

If a customer wishes to cancel hosting services, 30 days’ written notice is required. No refund will be provided for any unused portion of the current billing cycle.

Upon termination, web hosting and email services will cease, and all files, databases, email accounts, and other data associated with the hosting package may be permanently removed from our servers. Customers are responsible for ensuring that all required backups are downloaded and secured before termination takes effect.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate hosting services under the following circumstances:

• Where we reasonably believe that an account or website presents a risk to our infrastructure, our network, or other clients. This includes, but is not limited to, malware infections, spam activity, hacking attempts, unauthorised access, or any other malicious or harmful conduct.
• If a hosting account remains unpaid for an extended period, we may suspend services and, where necessary, terminate the account. If we contact you to request payment and do not receive a response, we will terminate the hosting account and remove the associated data permanently from our servers.
• Where a customer breaches this policy or any related hosting terms, we may issue a written warning and allow 48 hours to remedy the breach. If the issue is not resolved within that period, hosting services may be suspended until the matter has been fully corrected.

12. Customer Responsibilities

Customers are responsible for the proper use of their hosting account and for any content stored, uploaded, or published through it. This includes:

• Ensuring that any content placed on the hosting account is lawful and does not infringe the rights of others.
• Keeping login details secure and restricting access to authorised users only.
• Maintaining their own backups of website files, databases, and email where appropriate.
• Notifying us promptly of any suspected security issue, unauthorised access, or service problem.
• Keeping billing and contact information up to date so we can communicate about the hosting service.
• Making sure any software, plugins, themes, or applications installed on the hosting account are kept up to date where the customer is managing the website themselves. If you have engaged us to maintain the website under a separate web maintenance package agreement, this responsibility will be handled by us in accordance with that agreement.

13. Limitation of Liability

While every effort is made to provide reliable hosting services, no hosting environment can guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall not be liable for:

• any indirect, consequential, special or incidental losses arising from the use or unavailability of hosting services, including loss of revenue, profits, customers, data or business interruption.
• any content published on your website, or for any third-party claims arising from your content or activities on your hosted site.

14. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Hosting Usage Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology or applicable law. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Continued use of our hosting services following notification of changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy. For material or pricing changes, we will notify active hosting clients via email.

15. Contact Us

For questions, concerns or reports of policy violations, please contact us:

• Email: info@jarwa.co.za
• Phone or WhatsApp: 067 300 3715
• Location: Cape Town, South Africa

To report abuse or a security incident involving a website hosted by us, please email info@jarwa.co.za with the subject line “HOSTING ABUSE REPORT”. We take all reports seriously and will respond within one business day.