Refund policy

AFIYANI RETURN, REFUND & EXCHANGE POLICY

Last updated: 25 August 2026

At AFIYANI, we want you to be happy with your purchase. Because our products include intimate apparel and body-shaping garments, we have specific procedures in place to protect both our customers and the hygiene and quality of our products.

This Return, Refund & Exchange Policy applies to purchases made through the AFIYANI online store and is intended to comply with applicable South African consumer protection legislation, including the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA).

Nothing in this policy is intended to limit, exclude or waive any consumer right that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded under South African law.

1. CHANGE-OF-MIND RETURNS

If you have simply changed your mind about your purchase, returns may be accepted where permitted by applicable law and where the product qualifies for return.

For hygiene and health reasons, thermal shapewear, underwear and other intimate garments must not have been worn, washed, soiled, altered or damaged.

Where a change-of-mind return is permitted, the product must:

  • Be unused and unworn.
  • Be clean and free from any odour, stains, makeup, deodorant, body oils or other marks.
  • Be returned with all original labels, tags and packaging where reasonably possible.
  • Not have been washed or laundered.
  • Not have been altered, stretched, damaged or otherwise used.
  • Include all accessories and components supplied with the product.

We reserve the right to inspect returned products before approving a change-of-mind return.

Hygiene-sensitive products

Because AFIYANI sells intimate apparel that comes into direct contact with the body, we cannot accept the return of a product that has been worn, washed, soiled or otherwise used where accepting the return would create a legitimate hygiene or health concern, subject always to any rights the consumer has under applicable law.

Customers should inspect the product for size, fit and appearance before wearing or washing it.

Opening packaging solely to inspect the product does not, by itself, mean that you have used the product. However, please retain the product in a clean and saleable condition.

2. ONLINE PURCHASE COOLING-OFF RIGHTS

Where applicable to your purchase, customers retain any statutory cooling-off rights provided by South African law.

For certain electronic transactions, ECTA provides consumers with a statutory right to cancel within the prescribed period, subject to the exceptions and requirements contained in the legislation.

Where a statutory cooling-off right applies, AFIYANI will process the cancellation and refund in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.

A statutory cooling-off right is separate from AFIYANI's voluntary change-of-mind return policy.

3. DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS

If you receive a product that is defective, damaged or does not meet the requirements imposed by applicable consumer legislation, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act provides consumers with statutory remedies for goods that fail to meet the required standards, including goods that are defective or unsuitable for their intended purpose. The CPA provides an implied warranty period of six months in respect of qualifying goods.

Where a product qualifies for a statutory remedy, AFIYANI will provide the remedy required by applicable law.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, this may include a:

  • Repair;
  • Replacement; or
  • Refund.

We may request photographs, videos or other reasonable information to help us establish the nature of the alleged defect.

If we require the product to be returned for inspection, we will provide instructions on how to do so.

What is generally not considered a manufacturing defect?

Subject to your statutory rights, a product will generally not be considered defective merely because of:

  • Normal wear and tear.
  • Damage caused by improper use.
  • Failure to follow the product's care instructions.
  • Excessive stretching or pulling.
  • Damage caused by sharp objects, jewellery, nails or other external objects.
  • Damage caused by washing, drying or ironing contrary to the care instructions.
  • Damage caused by alteration or modification of the garment.
  • Damage caused by misuse, negligence or accident.
  • A change in personal preference after purchase.
  • A customer selecting the incorrect size where the product supplied corresponds with the size ordered.

Nothing in this section limits any statutory remedy where the product was defective or otherwise failed to comply with applicable consumer law.

4. INCORRECT PRODUCT OR INCORRECT SIZE SENT

If AFIYANI sends you a product that is different from the product you ordered, please contact us before using or washing the product.

If we have supplied the incorrect product due to an error on our part, we will arrange an appropriate remedy in accordance with applicable law.

If you selected the incorrect size yourself and the product supplied corresponds with the order placed, this will generally be treated as a change-of-mind/size-selection return rather than an incorrect-product claim.

Any exchange will be subject to stock availability.

5. PRODUCT DOES NOT FIT

We understand that choosing the correct shapewear size online can sometimes be difficult.

Please carefully review our size guide before placing your order.

If you select the wrong size, the product may qualify for a return or exchange under our applicable change-of-mind policy, provided that:

  • The garment has not been worn.
  • The garment has not been washed.
  • The garment is clean and free from body contact marks, odours, stains or other contamination.
  • The original tags and packaging are retained where reasonably possible.
  • The product has not been damaged or altered.

Once a shapewear garment has been worn or washed, we generally cannot accept it as a change-of-mind size return because of the hygiene-sensitive nature of the product, subject to any statutory rights that may apply.

6. DAMAGED PRODUCTS ON DELIVERY

Please inspect your parcel as soon as reasonably possible after delivery.

If your product appears to have been damaged during delivery, please contact us and provide photographs of:

  • The product;
  • The packaging;
  • The shipping label; and
  • The damage.

We may use this information to investigate the delivery issue and determine the appropriate remedy.

Where the damage results from a defect or other circumstance for which AFIYANI is legally responsible, we will provide the remedy required by applicable law.

7. RETURNS PROCESS

Do not send products back without first contacting AFIYANI.

To request a return, contact our customer service team through the contact details provided on our website and provide:

  • Your order number;
  • Full name;
  • Contact details;
  • Reason for the return;
  • Photographs where relevant; and
  • Any other information reasonably required to process the request.

If your return is approved, we will provide you with the relevant return instructions.

Products must be packaged securely to prevent damage during transportation.

AFIYANI is not responsible for products that are lost or damaged while being returned by a customer using a return method that was not arranged or approved by AFIYANI.

8. RETURN SHIPPING COSTS

Where a return is required because AFIYANI supplied an incorrect product, or where a statutory remedy requires AFIYANI to bear the applicable costs, AFIYANI will make appropriate arrangements in accordance with applicable law.

For voluntary change-of-mind returns or size exchanges, the customer may be responsible for reasonable return delivery costs, where permitted by law.

We will communicate any applicable return costs before the return is processed.

9. REFUNDS

Where you are legally entitled to a refund, AFIYANI will process the refund in accordance with the applicable legal requirements within 15 days of return of the product.

Refunds will generally be made using the original payment method, unless another method is agreed or required by applicable law.

The time for the funds to reflect in your account may depend on your payment provider or financial institution.

AFIYANI will not use a store credit or voucher to replace a statutory cash refund where the law requires a refund.

10. SALE ITEMS, DISCOUNTED PRODUCTS AND PROMOTIONS

Sale prices, promotional discounts and special offers do not remove or reduce any consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded.

A discounted product may still qualify for a statutory remedy if it is defective or otherwise fails to comply with applicable consumer law.

However, where a product was clearly sold as a discounted item because of a specific disclosed defect or imperfection, the disclosed condition will be taken into account, subject to applicable law.

11. EXCHANGES

Where an exchange is requested for a different size or product because of a change of mind, exchanges are subject to:

  • The product being eligible for return;
  • The product being unused and unworn;
  • Hygiene requirements being satisfied; and
  • Availability of the requested replacement.

If the requested replacement is unavailable, AFIYANI may offer an alternative remedy where appropriate.

Where the exchange arises from a statutory consumer right, AFIYANI will comply with the remedy required by applicable law.

12. PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN WORN OR WASHED

For hygiene reasons, AFIYANI cannot generally resell intimate garments that have been worn or washed.

Accordingly, we may refuse a voluntary change-of-mind return where a thermal body shaper or other intimate garment has been worn, washed, soiled or otherwise used.

This restriction does not apply to a consumer's statutory rights relating to defective goods or other rights that cannot legally be excluded.

13. RETURNS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY

Subject to statutory consumer rights, a voluntary return may be refused where:

  • The product has been worn or washed.
  • The product has been soiled or contaminated.
  • The product has an odour indicating use.
  • The product has been damaged by the customer.
  • The product has been altered or modified.
  • The product is missing essential components.
  • The product was damaged through improper use or failure to follow care instructions.
  • The customer is attempting to return a product outside the applicable return period.
  • The product was clearly sold with a disclosed defect and the customer is attempting to return it because of that disclosed condition.

If a return does not qualify, we will explain the reason to the customer.

14. FRAUDULENT OR ABUSIVE RETURNS

AFIYANI reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to investigate suspected fraudulent, dishonest or abusive return activity.

Examples may include:

  • Repeatedly returning worn or washed garments as unused.
  • Returning a different product from the one purchased.
  • Removing or replacing product labels.
  • Deliberately damaging products before returning them.
  • Making false claims regarding defects or delivery.
  • Returning products that were not purchased from AFIYANI.

Nothing in this section limits a consumer's lawful rights.

15. PROOF OF PURCHASE

We may require reasonable proof of purchase before processing a return, refund, replacement or exchange.

Your order confirmation, invoice, order number or other transaction information may be used as proof of purchase.

16. OUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS

This policy is intended to operate together with South African consumer protection law.

If any provision of this policy conflicts with a mandatory provision of applicable South African law, the mandatory legal provision will prevail.

Nothing in this policy excludes or limits any right or remedy that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

AFIYANI reserves all rights available to it under applicable law in relation to products that have been misused, damaged, altered or returned in a condition that does not qualify for a voluntary return.

17. CONTACT US

If you have a question regarding a return, refund or exchange, please contact AFIYANI using the contact details published on our website.

Please include your order number in all return-related correspondence so that we can assist you as quickly as possible.

AFIYANI