LekkeSlaap, one of South Africa’s biggest accommodation-booking platforms, is changing hands as a consortium of local investors takes control of the travel technology company and its founders prepare to exit after more than a decade of growth.

The deal brings Bellair Road Investment Partners and Janic Capital together with the Ferreira Family Office, the Moolman Family Office and Investec as the new investor group behind the platform. LekkeSlaap’s executive management has also invested alongside the consortium and will remain in place.

The transaction gives the new owners control of a platform that has grown from a garage-based startup into a major Southern African travel brand, with more than 40,000 properties and over 9 million guests served since its inception.

From startup to travel platform

LekkeSlaap was launched in 2013 as South Africa’s first Afrikaans leisure accommodation booking platform after beginning as a travel technology startup in 2009. Although initially aimed at Afrikaans users, it expanded to serve English-speaking visitors from South Africa and abroad.

The platform now operates bilingually and has maintained its position in the local market despite Airbnb’s entry in 2015. Its competitive pricing, broad accommodation selection, customer support and accommodation-host commission structure have helped it remain one of South Africa’s largest booking platforms.

LekkeSlaap has also been named South Africa’s Leading Online Travel Agency at the World Travel Awards for three consecutive years.

Co-founders Jonathan Womersley and Marcel van de Ghinste, together with other long-standing shareholders, will leave the business under the transaction.

“To see LekkeSlaap grow from a small startup into a brand used and loved by millions of South Africans has been incredibly rewarding,” Womersley said.

New Owners Target Southern Africa

The consortium said keeping LekkeSlaap in South African hands will support the company’s next stage of expansion, including greater investment in technology and localisation and a broader push across Southern Africa.

CEO Frans Joubert and the existing executive team will continue running the company, while the board has been strengthened with two prominent South African business leaders.

Herman Bosman, chairman of OUTsurance Group and Fortress Real Estate and former CEO of RMB Holdings and RMI Holdings, has been appointed chairman of LekkeSlaap.

Robert Paddock, co-founder of GetSmarter and Valenture Institute, has also joined the board. Both have invested alongside the new consortium.

Bellair Road Investment Partners has backed businesses including Montego Pet Nutrition, Econofoods and Freedom of Movement, while Janic Capital is the Dippenaar family’s investment vehicle led by Adriaan Dippenaar.

PSG Capital and ENS advised the sellers. Werksmans, Deloitte and Scrums.com advised the acquiring consortium.