Last updated: 28 July 2026
IdeaSpots publishes practical South African information about business, side hustles, money and everyday life. These standards explain how we research, write, update and correct our work.
Our editorial principles
We aim to make every article:
- useful for a clearly defined reader and task;
- accurate at the time of publication or review;
- specific about what is known, estimated or uncertain;
- based on the strongest reasonably available sources;
- independent of advertisers, affiliates and commercial subjects; and
- clear about important limitations, risks and alternatives.
We do not promise outcomes, approvals, profits, investment returns or access to money.
Sources
For factual claims, we prefer sources in this order:
- legislation, regulations, regulators, government departments and courts;
- audited reports, official scheme or company documents and first-party product information;
- recognised industry bodies and professional organisations;
- reputable reporting and specialist secondary sources; and
- personal accounts or community sources, clearly identified as anecdotal.
Important claims should link directly to the source that supports them. A general list of sources at the bottom of a page does not replace claim-level links where a reader needs to verify a figure, rule, deadline or process.
Financial, legal and regulated topics
Money, benefits, tax, employment, legal and regulatory information can materially affect a reader. For these topics we:
- use primary sources wherever possible;
- state the date on which volatile facts were checked;
- distinguish official services from private commercial services;
- distinguish general information from personalised advice;
- avoid presenting estimates as guaranteed amounts;
- explain when rules depend on a municipality, provider, contract or individual circumstances; and
- recommend professional advice when a decision requires it.
A “Reviewed by” credit appears only when a named person with relevant qualifications has actually reviewed the article. The credit should state the reviewer’s name, relevant credential or role and review date.
Prices, comparisons and projections
Prices and costs change by location, supplier, specifications, taxes and date. When we publish a price, cost comparison or projection, we identify how it was researched. Depending on the article, that may include dated supplier quotations, published price lists, official fees or an explicitly labelled editorial planning model.
We do not present an editorial estimate as a supplier’s quote. Revenue, profit and payback illustrations are scenarios, not promises.
Updates
An article’s publication or updated date must reflect meaningful editorial work, not a cosmetic date change. Material updates should include a short note describing what changed, especially when we correct:
- a legal or regulatory requirement;
- a deadline;
- contact details or an application route;
- a price or monetary total;
- the status of a scheme or programme; or
- advice that could change a reader’s decision.
Corrections
We correct material errors promptly and transparently. Minor spelling, grammar or formatting changes may be made without a correction note. See our Corrections Policy for how to report an error and how we record substantive corrections.
Advertising and affiliate relationships
Commercial relationships do not buy favourable coverage or control our conclusions. Sponsored material and affiliate relationships must be disclosed clearly. See our Advertising and Affiliate Disclosure.
Tools and editorial responsibility
IdeaSpots may use research, transcription, editing or automated tools to assist its work. Tools do not carry editorial responsibility. The publisher remains responsible for checking claims, links, calculations and the final article before publication.
Contact
To question a claim, suggest a source or report an error, email webpaygis@gmail.com or use the contact page. Include the article URL and the specific sentence or section concerned.
