SoftTechz Technology, founded and led by CEO Dr Lebogang Maloisane, will officially launch SoftMeet in the first week of June 2026. This is not a messaging app. It is 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, backed by seven years of focused execution, live government partnerships and a growing user base.
“We are not waiting for someone else to solve the digital divide. We are building the infrastructure ourselves and making it free for the people who need it most,” said Maloisane.
The platform: More than a messaging app
SoftMeet operates across MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C on a reverse-billing model – zero data cost to users, no bundles, no exclusions. Here is what is already live:
Virtual Teacher Assistance – after hours, data-free
One of SoftMeet’s most powerful and under-appreciated features is its after-hours teacher assistance capability. Matric learners can reach qualified teachers directly through the platform – not just during school hours, but at night, over weekends and during exam preparation periods. For a Grade 12 learner in Klerksdorp or Mafikeng without data, this is the difference between understanding a concept and failing a paper.
SoftMeet Go Live – first South African app to do data-free live streaming
SoftMeet says it has achieved something no other South African application has: live video streaming that is entirely data-free. Teachers can broadcast live lessons. Community leaders can address their constituents. Entrepreneurs can demo their products. Anyone on a supported network can watch – for free. This is not a feature. This is infrastructure. And it belongs to South Africa.
Jobs on SoftMeet – employment, data-free
South Africa has a 32% unemployment rate. 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 job seekers to apply – all without spending a cent on data. Everything happens inside SoftMeet, data-free.
Student Tracker – real visibility for parents and schools
SoftMeet’s Student Tracker gives schools and parents real-time visibility into learner engagement and activity on the platform. In a country where parental involvement in education is often constrained by work schedules, distance and communication costs, this tool provides meaningful connection between home and school – at zero cost.
The education deployment: Matlosana LEO
SoftMeet’s first major institutional deployment is already under way. In partnership with the Matlosana Local Education Office (LEO), Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, North West Province, SoftTechz Technology is rolling out a 12-month data-free E-Moderation virtual learning intervention from June 2026 – targeting 44 schools, an estimated 36 000 Grade 12 learners, teachers and parents, with potential expansion to grades eight to 11. Cost to the Department of Basic Education: R0. Cost to schools: R0. Cost to learners: R0.
Across North West Province, the barriers are concrete:
- Learners cannot access virtual lessons without purchasing data.
- Teachers cannot conduct live video conferencing from school or home.
- Parents cannot communicate with educators without airtime.
- WhatsApp-based class groups exclude the learners least able to afford data
“As a South African technology company, we cannot stand by while millions of young people are locked out of digital education simply because they cannot afford data. This is not charity – this is infrastructure,” said Maloisane.
The force behind the founder: IBM South Africa’s enterprise development programme
Behind SoftTechz Technology’s journey from an emerging start-up to a deployment-ready national enterprise lies the sustained strategic support of IBM South Africa through its B-BBEE enterprise development programme, which has been instrumental in enabling platform development (including the SoftMeet platform), infrastructure growth and scalable public sector deployment.
Since 2022, IBM’s support has provided critical technology enablement and access to strategic thought leadership, strengthening SoftTechz Technology’s operational and technical capacity while enabling the company to expand its workforce, recruit and develop skilled South African professionals and create sustainable employment in market-relevant technology fields – all while supporting its long-term growth and ability to deliver meaningful digital impact across South Africa.
That capacity directly shaped SoftMeet’s ability to architect a production-grade platform, navigate SITA certification, execute reverse-billing integrations across four mobile networks, build POPIA-compliant infrastructure and scale from a founder’s vision to a deployment-ready national enterprise.
Today, SoftMeet is live across 44 schools in the North West Province, delivering data-free digital collaboration and learning capabilities to underserved communities – a tangible demonstration of what meaningful enterprise development investment can achieve. Additionally, SoftMeet’s data free platform provides access to IBM SkillsBuild platform, enabling SoftMeet learners to access world-class, relevant, work-ready education content.
Credentials that matter
SoftMeet is not a proof-of-concept. The platform:
- Is SITA AVCT Certified – approved for government procurement.
- Is POPIA compliant and locally hosted in South Africa.
- Has reverse-billing agreements in place with MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C.
- Is an existing partner to Tshwane North District.
What comes next
The June 2026 launch marks the beginning, not the culmination. SoftTechz Technology is in active conversations with additional education districts, municipal governments and financial institutions. Seven years ago, Maloisane set out to give every South African – regardless of income – access to the digital world. The question is no longer whether SoftMeet works. The question is how far it can go.
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