MTN Mobi-zines Terms & Conditions

Please note that as of 1st May 2025 these Terms and Conditions have been amended. The subscription fee has been increased to R5 per day, R25 per week and R30 per month.

Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions govern the use of the MTN Mobi-zines subscription service and related features (“the Subscription Service”).
The terms of this agreement (“Terms and Conditions”) govern the relationship between you, the billing service provider (MTN SA (Pty) Ltd and their respective affiliates) (“the Billing Partner”) and Thumbtribe Trading (Pty) Ltd (“Thumbtribe”) (and its respective affiliates) (collectively hereinafter “MTN Mobi-zines” or “Us” or “We”) regarding your use of the Subscription Service.
Thumbtribe has agreements with a variety of publishers and distributors (“Content Providers”) to provide the content defined in clause 1 below.
Description of the Subscription Service
1. Subscribers will be provided with unlimited access to the following content which can be accessed via a web reader on a smartphone, tablet or PC:
  1. A catalogue of magazines from local and international content providers.
  2. A catalogue of daily and weekly newspapers.
2. A subscription fee of R5 per day (where the subscriber has selected the daily billing option) or R25 per week (where the subscriber has selected the weekly billing option) or R30 per month (where the subscriber has selected the monthly billing option) is payable on a recurring basis for this Subscription Service.
3. The subscriber opts in by visiting https://mobizines.mtn.co.za/ or dialing *686*6368# (Daily Subscription) or *686*8123# (Weekly Subscription) or *686*9763# (Monthly Subscription)
4. The Subscription Service is offered on a promotional basis and may be withdrawn from the market or changed at any time and at the Billing Partner/ Thumbtribe’s discretion.
5. The subscriber may cancel this service at any time without contractual penalty. If the subscriber does not cancel the service, it will endure on a daily basis until cancellation is received by the Billing Partner / Thumbtribe.
MTN Mobi-zines Free Trial
1. From time to time, MTN Mobi-zines may offer a trial without payment or at a reduced rate (a "Free Trial"). The Free Trial offer and trial period will be specifically stated on sign up and the trial period will commence from the moment that the trial period is activated. After the trial period, regular pricing for the subscription will be charged - see Payment and Terms.
2. By activating the Free Trial you agree that we may automatically begin charging you for the paid subscription on the first day following the end of the trial period on a recurring basis.
3. Should a subscriber not want to become a paying user of the MTN Mobi-zines service upon the lapse of the Free Trial period, they will have to terminate the service before the end of the Free Trial period by dialling *123#. Instructions for this can be found under clause 6. How to stop the recurring subscription.
4. MTN Mobi-zines reserves the right to remove or cancel the Free Trial offer at any time.
5. MTN Mobi-zines reserves the right to change the features of the Free Trial offer at any time.
MTN Mobi-zines Content
1. MTN Mobi-zines content is provided by a variety of local and international publishers. The publications made available may be amended from time to time.
2. A limited back issue catalogue will also be made available to subscribers.
3. A working internet connection is required in order to consume content via the web reader. The subscriber should ensure they have sufficient data to read online.
Duration and Termination
1. The Subscription Service will endure on a day-to-day basis from the start date, 21 June 2021, until the Billing Partner / Thumbtribe in its sole and absolute discretion elects to discontinue the promotion. The subscriber may cancel at any time during this term, without penalty. The subscriber is responsible for ensuring that cancellation of the service is actioned in accordance with clause 6.1. Below.
2. Should the subscriber incorrectly complete the cancellation process, the Billing Partner and Thumbtribe will not be liable for any additional costs or compensation due to the error.
3. The subscriber acknowledges that the Billing Partner / Thumbtribe may terminate this agreement by written notice, including email, and without liability in the event of the termination of its agreement with a Content Provider or an upstream licensee relevant to the provision of any connectivity service.
Payment and Terms
1. Where the subscriber has selected the daily billing option, a subscription fee of R5 per day will be deducted in full from the subscriber’s airtime balance on a daily basis from the date that the subscriber subscribes to the MTN Mobi-zines subscription service.
2. Where the subscriber has selected the weekly billing option, a subscription fee of R25 per week will be deducted in full from the subscriber’s airtime balance on a weekly basis from the date that the subscriber subscribes to the MTN Mobi-zines subscription service.
3. Where the subscriber has selected the monthly billing option, a subscription fee of R30 per month will be deducted in full from the subscriber’s airtime balance on a monthly basis from the date that the subscriber subscribes to the MTN Mobi-zines subscription service.
How to Stop the Recurring Subscription
1. To cancel the service the subscriber should: dial *123#, reply 1 to Manage Subscriptions then reply 1 to View or cancel subscriptions, then follow the prompts on screen to select and cancel the MTN Mobi-zines subscription. The subscriber will receive an SMS notification confirming that the subscription has been successfully cancelled, or
2. Login to the subscriber’s existing Mobi-zines account https://mobizines.mtn.co.za/signin and use the menu links to navigate to the My Account page. Click the Unsubscribe button to cancel.
Customer Support
1. For MTN billing queries, dial 135 (free from your MTN SIM).
2. For any other queries related to the MTN Mobi-zines Subscription Service, dial 135 (free from your MTN SIM) or email subs@thumbtribe.biz.
Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability
1. Thumbtribe is a member of WASPA and is bound by the WASPA Code of Conduct. Customers have the right to approach WASPA to lodge a complaint in accordance with the WASPA complaints procedure. Thumbtribe may be required to share information relating to a service or a customer with WASPA for the purpose of resolving a complaint. WASPA website: www.waspa.org.za
2. Mobi-zines is a subscription service charged at R5/day or R25/week or R30/month. By using the service you agree that you are 18 years or older and have the bill payers' permission. Compatible handsets only. To unsubscribe dial *123# (see clause 6. above). For help call 135 (see clause 7. above).
3. By using the service you agree to receive daily news alerts and promotional material relating to this and similar services. To opt out, visit the My Account page and update your communication preferences.
4. Service provided by Billing Partner and Thumbtribe, 4 Umvumvu Drive, Simbithi, Ballito 4390.
5. This service must not be used:
  1. to intentionally engage in illegal conduct,
  2. to knowingly create, store or disseminate any illegal content,
  3. to knowingly infringe copyright,
  4. to knowingly infringe any intellectual property rights, or
  5. to send spam or promote the sending of spam
6. We have the right to suspend or terminate the services of any customer who does not comply with these terms and conditions or any other related contractual obligations, and we have the right to take down any content (hosted as part of the service) that it considers illegal or for which it has received a take-down notice.
7. Thumbtribe and Billing Partner accept no liability for any loss or damage to the property or equipment of the subscriber arising out of the provision of the product.
8. Application for, use of and subscription of the product are at the sole risk of the subscriber or applicant.
9. The subscriber is solely responsible for all actions authenticated by credentials associated with their account(s).
10. Thumbtribe and Billing Partner accept no liability for any loss or damage suffered by subscribers as a result of unauthorised use of the subscriber’s credentials.
Protection of Personal Information and Direct Marketing
1. MTN and Thumbtribe are committed to protecting the subscriber’s privacy and ensuring that their personal information is protected in accordance with data protection legislation and regulation in South Africa, including but not limited to the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Without limiting the generality of this commitment, these parties will:
  1. Only collect personal information as is necessary to provide the Mobi-zines Service, including offering other products and services that may be of interest.
  2. Only process collected personal information for this purpose.
  3. Only transfer personal information where required for the provision of the Service and only then where an agreement is in place with the transferee to ensure continued compliance with POPIA.
  4. Take industry standard measures to secure personal information in their possession.
  5. Delete personal information where it is no longer required.
  6. Otherwise only release personal information where under a legal obligation to do so.
2. The subscriber consents to the processing of his or her personal information as outlined above.
3. The subscriber shall familiarise himself or herself with the Customer Privacy and Notice available on the MTN Website.