Association of Muslim Women Authors in South Africa (AMWASA) | Last updated: 12 April 2026

The Prophet SAW said: “If anyone allows Iqaalah [i.e. agrees to cancel it] with a Muslim, Allah will forgive his sins on the Day of Resurrection.” [Abu Daawood]

At AMWASA, we want every interaction with us to be a positive one. This policy sets out your rights and our obligations regarding refunds and cancellations for purchases made in our online shop and for membership subscriptions.

This policy is subject to the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA). Nothing in this policy limits or overrides any right you have under the CPA. Where there is any conflict, the CPA will prevail.

1. Shop Purchases — Physical Books & Products

1.1 Your Right to Return (Section 20, CPA)

In accordance with Section 20 of the Consumer Protection Act, you have the right to return goods and receive a full refund in the following circumstances:

The goods are of poor quality, unsafe, defective, or not reasonably suitable for their intended purpose.
The goods do not match the description or sample provided at the time of purchase.
You were not given an adequate opportunity to examine the goods before purchase (for example, in a distance/online purchase).

Under the CPA, you have up to ten (10) business days from the date of delivery to notify us if you wish to return goods purchased online, without requiring a reason.

1.2 Condition of Returned Goods

To qualify for a refund or exchange, returned items must be:

In their original, unread condition — not written in, damaged, or marked.
Returned with all original packaging and any inserts.
Accompanied by proof of purchase (order confirmation or receipt).

We reserve the right to decline a return or issue a partial refund where goods are returned in a condition that indicates use, damage, or tampering beyond reasonable inspection.

1.3 Damaged or Incorrect Items

If you receive an item that is damaged in transit, defective, or not what you ordered, please contact us within five (5) business days of receiving your order. We will arrange a replacement or full refund, including any original delivery costs, at no charge to you.

Please include a clear photograph of the damage or incorrect item when contacting us, to help us resolve your query efficiently.

1.4 How to Initiate a Return

To initiate a return, please contact us at the email address listed at the end of this policy. Include the following:

Your full name and order number.
The reason for the return.
A photograph, where relevant (e.g. damaged or incorrect goods).

We will respond within three (3) business days with return instructions. Please do not return items without first receiving confirmation from us, as unauthorised returns may not be processed.

1.5 Return Shipping Costs

Where a return is due to a defect, damage, or our error, AMWASA will cover the cost of return shipping. Where a return is initiated under the general CPA ten-day return right (change of mind), the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.

1.6 Refund Processing

Once a return is received and inspected, we will notify you of the outcome within five (5) business days. Approved refunds will be processed using the original payment method where possible:

Card payments via Yoco or PayFast will be refunded to the original card. Processing time is subject to your bank’s timeframes (typically three to seven business days).
EFT payments will be refunded via EFT to your nominated bank account. We will request your banking details at the time of processing.

AMWASA will not issue refunds to a different payment method or third-party account without prior written agreement.

1.7 Non-Returnable Items

The following items cannot be returned or refunded unless they are defective or incorrectly supplied:

Books or products that have been read, written in, or otherwise used beyond initial inspection.
Specially ordered or personalised items.
Items purchased at a discounted or sale price, unless defective.

2. Digital Products & Downloadable Resources

Where AMWASA offers digital products (such as downloadable guides, templates, or resources) for individual purchase outside of a membership:

Due to the nature of digital content, we generally do not offer refunds once a digital item has been accessed or downloaded.
If you experience a technical issue that prevents you from accessing a digital product you have purchased, please contact us within five (5) business days and we will resolve the issue or issue a refund at our discretion.

This does not affect your rights under the CPA where a digital product is materially different from its description or is otherwise defective.

3. Membership Cancellations & Refunds

3.1 Cancelling Your Membership

You may cancel your AMWASA membership at any time by logging into your member account and following the cancellation steps, or by emailing us directly at the address below.

Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period. You will retain full access to your membership benefits until that date. AMWASA does not pro-rate or refund partial months.

3.2 Refunds on Membership Fees

Membership fees are generally non-refundable once a billing cycle has commenced. Exceptions may be made at AMWASA’s sole discretion in the following circumstances:

You were charged in error (for example, a duplicate payment or a charge after a confirmed cancellation).
You were unable to access your membership benefits due to a technical fault on our platform, and the issue was not resolved within a reasonable time.

To request a refund under these circumstances, please contact us within ten (10) business days of the charge in question. We will investigate and respond within five (5) business days.

3.3 The Collective Inner Circle

Given the limited capacity and waitlist-screened nature of this tier, the following additional terms apply:

Membership is confirmed only upon successful payment. Joining the waitlist does not constitute a financial commitment.
Once access is granted and payment is processed, the same cancellation and refund terms as Section 3.1 and 3.2 apply.
AMWASA reserves the right to remove a member from this tier for conduct that is inconsistent with our community values, without refund of any fees already paid for the current billing period.

3.4 AMWASA-Initiated Termination

In the event that AMWASA discontinues a membership tier entirely, members will be given a minimum of thirty (30) days’ written notice. Any fees paid for a period beyond that notice date will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.

4. Cooling-Off Period for Electronic Transactions

In accordance with Section 44 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA), consumers who purchase goods or services through an electronic transaction have the right to cancel without reason within seven (7) business days of receipt of the goods or conclusion of the services agreement.

Where you exercise this right, AMWASA will issue a full refund within thirty (30) days, provided the goods are returned in their original condition (for physical items) or, for digital or membership services, that the cooling-off period has not been waived by the commencement of the service.

If you sign up for a membership and immediately access the member library or resources, you may be deemed to have waived your ECTA cooling-off right in respect of that membership, as the service will have commenced at your request.

5. Contact Us

For any refund or cancellation request, please contact us at:

AMWASA — Association of Muslim Women Authors in South Africa

Durban, South Africa

Website: amwasa.co.za

Email: hello@amwasa.co.za

We aim to respond to all refund and cancellation queries within three (3) business days. We are committed to handling every request with fairness, care, and in the spirit of good faith.