SoftMeet has launched Africa's most ambitious data-free platform – and it's just getting started

Something important is happening in Pretoria. A seven-year-old technology company is launching a platform that challenges one of South African society's most stubborn problems – the cost of digital access – and it's doing so not with a white paper or a pitch deck, but with a live, working product, government involvement and an already growing user base.

Softtechz Technology, founded and led by CEO Lebogang Mailoisen, will officially launch the full version of Softmeet in the first week of June 2026. The platform is not a messaging app. It is not a social network in the traditional sense. This is, as Malosane describes it, a data-free digital ecosystem – a single platform through which South Africans can communicate, learn, work, earn and participate in the digital economy without paying for data.

“We're not waiting for someone else to solve the digital divide. We're building the infrastructure ourselves and making it free for those who need it most.”

These are not the words of a start-up chasing venture capital. These are the words of a man who has spent seven years quietly building – and is now ready to be seen.

SoftMeet works on a reverse-billing model on the MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C networks – meaning users on these networks do not pay for data at all when using the platform. No bundle. No airtime. No exclusions.

But what Softmeet offers goes far beyond chat. Here's what's already live on the platform:

Virtual Teacher Support – After Hours, Data-Free

One of the most powerful and underappreciated features of SoftMeet is its after-hours teacher support capabilities. Matric learners can access qualified teachers directly through the platform – not only during school hours, but at nights, on weekends and during exam preparation periods. For a Class 12 learner in Matlosana without data, it is the difference between understanding a concept and failing a paper.

Softmeet Go Live – South Africa's domestic live streaming platform

SoftMeet is redefining the way South Africans connect, learn and engage through live video. From classes and community meetings to product launches and public conversations, anyone can now broadcast live and reach their audience instantly.

Teachers can teach lessons. Community leaders can share important updates. Businesses can display products. Creators can build and engage their communities in real time.

This isn't just another feature. It is a platform designed to bring people together, amplify local voices and strengthen digital participation across South Africa.

Jobs at SoftMeet – Employment, Data-Free

The unemployment rate in South Africa is 32%. Most job seekers cannot afford to browse job portals, send e-mails, or attend virtual interviews. SoftMeet's built-in Jobs feature allows employers to post vacancies and let job seekers apply – all without spending a single cent on data.

Student Tracker – Real visibility for parents and schools

Softmeet's Student Tracker gives schools and parents real-time visibility of learners' engagement and activity on the platform. In a country where parental involvement in education is often hindered by work schedules, distance and communication costs, this tool provides a meaningful connection between home and school at zero cost.

Ahead of the full platform launch, SoftMeet has already achieved its first large institutional deployment. In partnership with the Matlosana Local Education Office (LEO) in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District of the North West Province, SoftTechz Technology will launch a 12-month data-free e-moderation virtual learning intervention starting from June 2026.

The program targets at least 44 schools and an estimated 36,000 beneficiaries – Class 12 learners, teachers and parents – with a possible extension to Classes 8 to 11, pending departmental approval. Basic Education Department Cost: R0. Cost of schools: R0. Cost for learners: R0.

The challenge being addressed is concrete. Throughout the North West Province:

• Learners cannot access virtual lessons without purchasing data.
• Teachers cannot do live video conferencing from school or home.
• Parents cannot communicate with teachers without airtime.
• WhatsApp-based class groups exclude learners who are least able to afford the data.

SoftMeet eliminates each of these obstacles all at once.

“As a South African technology company, we cannot stand by while millions of young people miss out on digital education because they can't afford data. This isn't charity – it's infrastructure,” Maloisan says.

SoftMeet encourages organizations and institutions in the education sector who are interested in participating directly in the pilot program to contact the team at support@softmeet.co.za, and the company will contact you.

SoftMeet is not a proof of concept. The platform is:

• SITA AVCT Certified – Approved for government procurement.
• POPIA compliant and hosted locally in South Africa.
• Reverse-billing agreements with MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C.
• A current participant from Tshwane North District.

The June 2026 launch marks a beginning, not an end. Softex Technology is in active negotiations with additional education districts, municipal governments and financial institutions. The platform's infrastructure – reverse billing, local hosting, government-grade compliance – is designed to scale.

For Maloisan, the mission has never changed. Seven years ago, he set out to create a platform that would give every South African, regardless of income, access to the digital world. In June 2026, that platform is live and growing.

The question now is not whether SoftMeet works or not. The question is how far it can go.

www.softmeet.co.za | support@softmeet.co.za