Escrow on Every Trade
Every trade on Yalla settles through third-party escrow. Not just the big ones — every one.
What actually protects you
Six safeguards that apply to every trade, whether it is one goat or a full load of weaners.
Third-party escrow
Payment is held by TradeSafe — South Africa's longest-running digital escrow service — under Standard Bank oversight, and insured.
Yalla never holds funds
The money does not pass through a Yalla bank account at any point. That is an architectural choice with regulatory consequences, not a policy setting.
Confirmation before loading
Sellers get written confirmation that funds are secured before loading, so nobody is asked to send animals on a promise.
Inspection before release
The buyer physically inspects on arrival. Nothing is released until they confirm they are satisfied with what arrived.
Disputes before payout
If something is wrong, it is raised while the funds are still protected — not chased afterwards.
A record of the deal
Who sold what, at what price, and when it was accepted — logged for both sides rather than lost in a group chat.
What it costs, and who holds the money
Nothing to list, nothing held by us, and nothing paid out before you have seen the animals.
Sellers list livestock and farm goods free. Buyers pay one protection fee at checkout.
Funds go straight to TradeSafe's escrow account. They never pass through a Yalla account.
Not an optional extra on big sales — it is how every transaction on Yalla settles.
The seller cannot draw the money until the buyer has seen the animals and accepted them.
Escrow is handled by TradeSafe — South Africa’s longest-running digital escrow service, held under Standard Bank oversight and insured.
Most informal livestock trade now happens in WhatsApp groups and on classifieds sites. They are free, fast, and completely unprotected.
BeforevsAfter
WhatsApp groups & classifieds
- You pay a stranger first and hope the animals show up as described.
- The seller is effectively anonymous and there is no record of what was agreed.
- If the stock is underweight, sick, or never arrives, there is no recourse.
- Auctions are safer, but only on the day, and only if you can get there.
Trading on Yalla
- Your money sits with TradeSafe until you have physically inspected the animals.
- Both sides are on record — who sold what, at what price, and when it was accepted.
- If something is wrong, you raise it before the funds are ever released.
- The market is open every day, from wherever you and your stock happen to be.
Testimonials
Placeholder quotes for layout — to be replaced with real customer feedback before launch.
“I have sold in WhatsApp groups for years and always held my breath. Knowing the money is already sitting in escrow before I load changes the whole thing.”
— Placeholder Seller, Free State · sample quote
Common questions about how Yalla works, how payment is protected, and what happens in the app.
No. This site explains how Yalla works. All listing, buying, and payment happens inside the app.
TradeSafe, South Africa's longest-running digital escrow service, under Standard Bank oversight and insured. The funds never pass through a Yalla bank account at any point.
Once the buyer has physically inspected the animals and confirmed they are satisfied. TradeSafe then releases the funds, splitting the seller's payment and Yalla's fee in a single instruction.
Listing is free for sellers. Buyers pay one protection fee at checkout, shown in full before you commit to the purchase.
You raise it at inspection, before the money is released. Because nothing has been paid out yet, the dispute is resolved while the funds are still protected.
An auction gives you settlement you can trust, but only on the sale day and only at the ring. Yalla gives you the same payment protection without the date or the drive.
Your next trade starts in the app
Listing and buying both happen inside the app. Sellers list free; buyers pay one protection fee at checkout.