WhatsApp Community Rules Join Our South Africans in Germany WhatsApp Community! Are you a South African living in Germany or planning to move here? Connect with fellow South Africans, share experiences, ask questions, and support each other in our WhatsApp Community! To keep our group safe and free from spam, we don’t publish the direct link. If you’d like to join, simply send an email to admin@southafricansingermany.de with a brief reason for wanting to join. We’ll get back to you shortly with the link and welcome you to our community! Our community thrives on mutual respect, positivity, and helpfulness. To ensure this remains a welcoming environment, we’ve outlined a few simple rules for everyone to follow. By participating, you help build a stronger, more supportive network of South Africans in Germany. The rules in detail Respect Everyone Treat all members with kindness and respect. Offensive, discriminatory, or abusive language and behavior will not be tolerated. No Harassment Do not send unsolicited private messages or repeatedly contact members without their consent. Report any harassment to the group admin. No Spam or Self-Promotion Share useful and relevant resources, but avoid posting unrelated links, advertisements, or promotional material outside designated groups (e.g., the Travel Tips and Marketing groups). No Pornography or Illegal Content Sharing pornography, illegal images, or any content that violates the law is strictly prohibited. Such actions will lead to immediate removal and may be reported to relevant authorities. Stay On Topic Post messages and questions in the appropriate group. For example, keep travel-related discussions in the Travel Tips and Deals group. Avoid Excessive Messaging Refrain from overwhelming the group with excessive or repetitive messages. Use concise messages to make conversations more enjoyable for everyone. Protect Member Privacy Do not share other members’ personal information, such as phone numbers or addresses, without their explicit consent. Avoid sharing screenshots of conversations outside the group without permission. Be Cautious with External Links Only share safe and relevant links. Admins may remove suspicious or inappropriate links without notice. Report Issues to Admins If you encounter inappropriate behavior, harassment, or spam, contact an admin directly to address the issue. Compliance with Community Guidelines By participating in this community, you agree to follow these rules. Violations may result in warnings, removal, or banning from the community. Guidelines for members and Admins These guidelines are here to protect the spirit of the group. If you feel something is missing, unfair, or unclear, talk to us. Your voice matters. We want this space to grow with the people in it. 1. Respect First, Always Speak to each other as if you’re sitting together over a cup of tea (or wine, no judgment). Disagree if you must—but no name-calling, sarcasm, or personal digs. Please avoid publicly criticising, mocking, or speaking negatively about other people. Not only does it hurt the group spirit, but in Germany, this can also cross legal lines under §§ 185–187 StGB (Beleidigung, üble Nachrede, Verleumdung). Let’s keep things kind, respectful, and above board — that’s the heart of our community. 2. Tone is Everything Text doesn’t show tone well. So: Avoid all caps and aggressive punctuation (!!!) If something could be misread as rude, it probably will be. 3. Pause, Don’t Pounce If a conversation is heating up:🛑 Stop. 🧘‍♀️ Breathe. 💬 De-escalate or take a break. Remember, responding calmly is more powerful than reacting defensively. 4. Use Emojis Thoughtfully Emojis can help express tone, but they can also be misread. Avoid using emojis that might come across as mocking, passive-aggressive, or hostile. If an emoji could be interpreted as rude, best to leave it out. Think of emojis as seasoning—used well, they add flavour; used carelessly, they ruin the dish. 5. No Tag Teams or Ambushes This isn’t Survivor SA. Don’t gang up on anyone or stir the pot. If you see tension brewing, DM an admin, not the group. 6. Listen with Generosity We all bring different styles, cultures, and histories to this group, which is what makes it beautiful. But it also means we need to give each other the benefit of the doubt, pause before reacting, and, where possible, seek clarity instead of conflict. 7. Admins = Gardeners, Not Police We’re here to help things grow and stay healthy, not to rule with a sjambok. However, if the group becomes unsafe, we will intervene. 8. Include, Don’t Exclude Inside jokes, in-groups, or passive-aggressive comments make people feel left out. Let’s build community, not cliques. 9. When in Doubt, Take it Private Got beef? Sort it out in DMs—not in front of the whole group. 10. Bring the Ubuntu We’re here to uplift each other, not compete. Kindness, encouragement, and humour are always welcome. Be the reason someone smiles today. 11. Different Opinions? Totally Normal. We’re a diverse group of strong, thoughtful people, which means we won’t always agree. And that’s okay!You don’t have to see eye to eye to show respect. Let’s listen with open hearts, respond with kindness, and remember: disagreement is not disrespect. 12. Skip the Politics & Tax Advice Politics can be divisive, and tax advice can be illegal. Let’s steer clear of both. Discussions about politics often evoke strong emotions and divert attention from our goal of creating a supportive and inclusive space. And when it comes to taxes, only licensed professionals and some direct family members may give tax advice in Germany. This is regulated by law under the Steuerberatungsgesetz (StBerG) § 2. So, if someone asks about taxes, kindly direct them to a certified tax advisor (Steuerberater). We’d hate for anyone to get in trouble just for trying to help! ⚠️ If Rules Are Broken Admins will gently remind you of the guidelines. Repeated issues may result in a time-out or removal. It’s not personal—it’s about keeping our space peaceful. Members who repeatedly cause tension, ignore group guidelines, or disrupt the group’s cohesion may be removed. This includes behaviour that feels aggressive, dismissive, or divisive. We reserve the right to protect the overall well-being of the group.WhatsApp’s guidelines make it clear