Silent Auction Terms and Conditions: Vineyard Hotel Stay – Unlocking Futures Bursary
1. Organiser and purpose
1.1 The silent auction (“the Auction”) is organised by the University of Cape Town, acting through its Development and Alumni Department (DAD) (“the Organiser”).
1.2 The Auction is conducted for fundraising purposes in support of the Unlocking Futures Bursary, which provides financial assistance to registered students of the University of Cape Town (“UCT”).
2. Acceptance of terms
2.1 Participation in the Auction constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
2.2 These Terms and Conditions apply to all bidders and to the winning bidder without exception.
3. Auction format
3.1 The Auction will be conducted as an online silent auction.
3.2 All bids must be submitted exclusively through the official online bidding form designated by the Organiser.
3.3 Bids submitted by any other means, including but not limited to email, telephone, social media, or verbal communication, will not be accepted.
4. Auction period
4.1 The Auction is open from 17 December 2025 at 12:00 SAST and will close on 30 January 2026 SAST.
4.2 The online bidding form automatically closes at the stated closing time.
4.3 The Organiser accepts no responsibility for bids not received due to technical issues, connectivity problems, or late submission.
5. Eligibility
5.1 The Auction is open only to persons who are 18 years of age or older at the time of submitting a bid.
5.2 By submitting a bid, bidders warrant that they have the legal capacity to enter into a binding financial obligation.
6. The prize
6.1 The prize consists of 2 sets of accommodation stay for 2 people each at The Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town (“the Prize”).
6.2 The Prize is subject to the terms and conditions of The Vineyard Hotel, including but not limited to:
• availability,
• blackout dates,
• validity period (before end of April 2026),
• booking procedures, and
• any other restrictions imposed by the hotel.
6.3 Full details relating to validity, blackout dates, booking requirements, and expiry will be communicated prior to or at the commencement of the Auction.
6.4 The Prize is:
• non-transferable,
• non-refundable, and
• may not be exchanged for cash or any alternative benefit.
7. Starting bid, reserve price, and bid increments
7.1 The Auction will open with a starting bid of ZAR 750.
7.2 Each bid must exceed the current leading bid by a minimum increment of ZAR 100.
7.3 The Organiser reserves the right to deem any bid invalid if it does not comply with the stated bid increment requirements.
8. Leading bid updates
8.1 The Organiser will update the current leading bid at intervals during the Auction period.
8.2 Leading bid updates are provided for guidance only.
8.3 Bidders remain solely responsible for ensuring that their submitted bid complies with the bid increment rules and exceeds the latest valid leading bid.
9. Winning bid
9.1 The winning bid will be the highest valid bid received prior to the closing time.
9.2 In the event that multiple bids of the same value are received, the bid with the earliest system timestamp will be deemed the winning bid.
9.3 The Organiser’s determination of the winning bid shall be final and binding.
10. Notification of winner
10.1 The winning bidder will be notified using the contact details provided in the bidding form.
10.2 The Organiser is not responsible for failed delivery of notifications due to incorrect or incomplete contact details supplied by the bidder.
11. Payment
11.1 The winning bidder will be required to complete payment within seventy-two (72) hours of notification.
11.2 Payment must be made using the payment method specified by the Organiser, which may include EFT or an electronic payment link.
11.3 If payment is not received within the stipulated timeframe, the Organiser reserves the right, without further notice, to:
• cancel the winning bid; and
• offer the Prize to the next highest valid bidder.
12. Issuing of the prize
12.1 The Prize voucher or booking confirmation will be issued only once full payment has been received and confirmed.
12.2 The Organiser’s responsibility is limited to issuing the Prize documentation. The Organiser bears no responsibility for:
• booking arrangements,
• travel costs,
• accommodation availability, or
• any services provided by the hotel.
13. Cancellation, withdrawal, and refunds
13.1 All bids are final and may not be withdrawn once submitted.
13.2 No refunds will be issued once payment has been made, regardless of whether the Prize is ultimately used.
14. Use of proceeds
14.1 All net proceeds from the Auction will be applied to the Unlocking Futures Bursary.
14.2 The Organiser retains full discretion over the allocation of funds in line with UCT policies and bursary requirements.
15. Data protection and record keeping
15.1 Personal information collected during the Auction will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and UCT policies.
15.2 Bidder information will be used solely for:
• administering the Auction,
• processing payments,
• issuing the Prize, and
• maintaining audit and reporting records.
15.3 All bids are recorded with timestamps to ensure transparency and accountability.
16. Limitation of liability
16.1 To the extent permitted by law, the Organiser shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or expense arising from:
• participation in the Auction, or
• acceptance or use of the Prize.
17. Amendments and discretion
17.1 The Organiser reserves the right to:
• amend these Terms and Conditions prior to the closing of the Auction;
• disqualify bids that do not comply with these Terms and Conditions; and
• resolve any dispute or issue not expressly covered herein in a fair and reasonable manner.
18. Governing law
18.1 These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
19. Contact
19.1 Any queries relating to the Auction may be directed to: giving@uct.ac.za