Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News
      Big Microsoft 365 price increases coming next year

      Big Microsoft price increases coming next year

      5 December 2025
      Vodacom to take control of Safaricom in R36-billion deal - Shameel Joosub

      Vodacom to take control of Safaricom in R36-billion deal

      4 December 2025
      Black Friday goes digital in South Africa as online spending surges to record high

      Black Friday goes digital in South Africa as online spending surges to record high

      4 December 2025
      BYD takes direct aim at Toyota with launch of sub-R500 000 Sealion 5 PHEV

      BYD takes direct aim at Toyota with launch of sub-R500 000 Sealion 5 PHEV

      4 December 2025
      'Get it now': Takealot in new instant deliveries pilot

      ‘Get it now’: Takealot in new instant deliveries pilot

      4 December 2025
    • World
      Amazon and Google launch multi-cloud service for faster connectivity

      Amazon and Google launch multi-cloud service for faster connectivity

      1 December 2025
      Google makes final court plea to stop US breakup

      Google makes final court plea to stop US breakup

      21 November 2025
      Bezos unveils monster rocket: New Glenn 9x4 set to dwarf Saturn V

      Bezos unveils monster rocket: New Glenn 9×4 set to dwarf Saturn V

      21 November 2025
      Tech shares turbocharged by Nvidia's stellar earnings

      Tech shares turbocharged by stellar Nvidia earnings

      20 November 2025
      Config file blamed for Cloudflare meltdown that disrupted the web

      Config file blamed for Cloudflare meltdown that disrupted the web

      19 November 2025
    • In-depth
      Jensen Huang Nvidia

      So, will China really win the AI race?

      14 November 2025
      Valve's Linux console takes aim at Microsoft's gaming empire

      Valve’s Linux console takes aim at Microsoft’s gaming empire

      13 November 2025
      iOCO's extraordinary comeback plan - Rhys Summerton

      iOCO’s extraordinary comeback plan

      28 October 2025
      Why smart glasses keep failing - no, it's not the tech - Mark Zuckerberg

      Why smart glasses keep failing – it’s not the tech

      19 October 2025
      BYD to blanket South Africa with megawatt-scale EV charging network - Stella Li

      BYD to blanket South Africa with megawatt-scale EV charging network

      16 October 2025
    • TCS
      TCS+ | How Cloud on Demand helps partners thrive in the AWS ecosystem - Odwa Ndyaluvane and Xenia Rhode

      TCS+ | How Cloud On Demand helps partners thrive in the AWS ecosystem

      4 December 2025
      TCS | MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita on competition, AI and the future of mobile

      TCS | Ralph Mupita on competition, AI and the future of mobile

      28 November 2025
      TCS | Dominic Cull on fixing South Africa's ICT policy bottlenecks

      TCS | Dominic Cull on fixing South Africa’s ICT policy bottlenecks

      21 November 2025
      TCS | BMW CEO Peter van Binsbergen on the future of South Africa's automotive industry

      TCS | BMW CEO Peter van Binsbergen on the future of South Africa’s automotive industry

      6 November 2025
      TCS | Why Altron is building an AI factory - Bongani Andy Mabaso

      TCS | Why Altron is building an AI factory in Johannesburg

      28 October 2025
    • Opinion
      Your data, your hardware: the DIY AI revolution is coming - Duncan McLeod

      Your data, your hardware: the DIY AI revolution is coming

      20 November 2025
      Zero Carbon Charge founder Joubert Roux

      The energy revolution South Africa can’t afford to miss

      20 November 2025
      It's time for a new approach to government IT spend in South Africa - Richard Firth

      It’s time for a new approach to government IT spend in South Africa

      19 November 2025
      How South Africa's broken Rica system fuels murder and mayhem - Farhad Khan

      How South Africa’s broken Rica system fuels murder and mayhem

      10 November 2025
      South Africa's AI data centre boom risks overloading a fragile grid - Paul Colmer

      South Africa’s AI data centre boom risks overloading a fragile grid

      30 October 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • IQbusiness
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Netstar
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Vodacom Business
      • Wipro
      • Workday
      • XLink
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Financial services
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Satellite communications
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Sections » Social media » TC|Daily | How MoyaApp is taking on WhatsApp, and winning

    TC|Daily | How MoyaApp is taking on WhatsApp, and winning

    MoyaApp, with six million active monthly users in South Africa, is working hard to become as big as WhatsApp in the country, its founder tells TechCentral in this episode of TC|Daily.
    By TechCentral17 October 2022
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp
    Gour Lentell

    The “data-free” messaging app MoyaApp, which already has six million active monthly users in South Africa, is working hard to become as big as WhatsApp in the country.

    The app’s founder, Gour Lentell, joins Duncan McLeod on TechCentral’s technology show, TC|Daily, to talk about how the development of the app is progressing.

    Lentell talks about the history of MoyaApp, how it’s able to offer “data-free” messaging to people who don’t have data or airtime, and why he believes this is a winning proposition in a country where Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp has become entrenched.

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest episodes of TC|Daily

    In this episode of TC|Daily, Lentell unpacks:

    • MoyaApp’s business model
    • Its growth ambitions
    • His background and how he came to create MoyaApp
    • Why MoyaApp is succeeding in South Africa when China’s WeChat failed
    • The evolution of instant messaging in South Africa, from Mxit to BBM to WhatsApp
    • Super apps and their role in the ecosystem – including a discussion on Elon Musk’s plans for Twitter
    • MoyaApp’s monetisation mode
    • MoyaPay, fintech and a cashless economy

    Don’t miss this insightful discussion about a homegrown app taking on a global giant.

    Watch this episode of TC|Daily

    Listen to this episode of TC|Daily

    Subscribe for free

    To subscribe to any of TechCentral’s shows, including Everything PC, TC|Daily or Impact Series, please use the links below:

    TC|Daily

    • YouTube
    • Spotify
    • Apple
    • Pocket Casts
    • Player.fm
    • RSS

    Impact Series

    • YouTube
    • Spotify
    • Apple
    • Pocket Casts
    • Player.fm
    • RSS

    Everything PC

    • YouTube
    • Spotify
    • Apple
    • Pocket Casts
    • Player.fm
    • RSS

    Get the latest and best South African tech news



    Gour Lentell Meta Platforms MoyaApp MoyaPay WeChat WhatsApp
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleMastercard to offer crypto trading tied to bank accounts
    Next Article Artificial intelligence – the next frontier in customer experience

    Related Posts

    Truenav launches WhatsApp business calling for contact centres

    TRUENAV launches WhatsApp business calling for contact centres

    26 November 2025
    Nvidia's AI empire rests on just four customers - Jensen Huang

    Nvidia’s AI empire rests on just four customers

    21 November 2025
    2Africa: Meta's continent-hugging mega-cable is here

    2Africa: Meta’s continent-hugging mega-cable is here

    19 November 2025
    Company News
    AI is not a technology problem - iqbusiness

    AI is not a technology problem – iqbusiness

    5 December 2025
    Telcos are sitting on a data gold mine - but few know what do with it - Phillip du Plessis

    Telcos are sitting on a data gold mine – but few know what do with it

    4 December 2025
    Unlock smarter computing with your surface Copilot+ PC

    Unlock smarter computing with your Surface Copilot+ PC

    4 December 2025
    Opinion
    Your data, your hardware: the DIY AI revolution is coming - Duncan McLeod

    Your data, your hardware: the DIY AI revolution is coming

    20 November 2025
    Zero Carbon Charge founder Joubert Roux

    The energy revolution South Africa can’t afford to miss

    20 November 2025
    It's time for a new approach to government IT spend in South Africa - Richard Firth

    It’s time for a new approach to government IT spend in South Africa

    19 November 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Latest Posts
    Big Microsoft 365 price increases coming next year

    Big Microsoft price increases coming next year

    5 December 2025
    AI is not a technology problem - iqbusiness

    AI is not a technology problem – iqbusiness

    5 December 2025
    Vodacom to take control of Safaricom in R36-billion deal - Shameel Joosub

    Vodacom to take control of Safaricom in R36-billion deal

    4 December 2025
    Black Friday goes digital in South Africa as online spending surges to record high

    Black Friday goes digital in South Africa as online spending surges to record high

    4 December 2025
    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media
    • Cookie policy (ZA)
    • TechCentral – privacy and Popia

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Manage consent

    TechCentral uses cookies to enhance its offerings. Consenting to these technologies allows us to serve you better. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions of the website.

    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    • Manage options
    • Manage services
    • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
    • Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    • {title}
    • {title}
    • {title}