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
      The real reason Absa wrote off R2.4-billion in software - Johnson Idesoh

      The real reason Absa wrote off R2.4-billion in software

      27 March 2026
      MTN Group shakes up board with five new directors

      MTN Group shakes up board with five new directors

      27 March 2026
      Anoosh Rooplal

      TCS | Anoosh Rooplal on the Post Office’s last stand

      27 March 2026
      Global crackdown on children's screen time gathers pace

      Global crackdown on children’s screen time gathers pace

      27 March 2026
      Big Tech's Big Tobacco moment has arrived

      Big Tech’s Big Tobacco moment has arrived

      27 March 2026
    • World

      Apple plans to open Siri to rival AI services

      27 March 2026
      It's official: ads are coming to ChatGPT

      It’s official: ads are coming to ChatGPT

      23 March 2026
      Mystery Chinese AI model revealed to be Xiaomi's

      Mystery Chinese AI model revealed to be Xiaomi’s

      19 March 2026
      A mystery AI model has developers buzzing

      A mystery AI model has developers buzzing

      18 March 2026
      Samsung's trifold gamble ends in retreat

      Samsung’s trifold gamble ends in retreat

      17 March 2026
    • In-depth
      The last generation of coders

      The last generation of coders

      18 February 2026
      Sentech is in dire straits

      Sentech is in dire straits

      10 February 2026
      How liberalisation is rewiring South Africa's power sector

      How liberalisation is rewiring South Africa’s power sector

      21 January 2026
      The top-performing South African tech shares of 2025

      The top-performing South African tech shares of 2025

      12 January 2026
      Digital authoritarianism grows as African states normalise internet blackouts

      Digital authoritarianism grows as African states normalise internet blackouts

      19 December 2025
    • TCS
      Meet the CIO | HealthBridge CTO Anton Fatti on the future of digital health

      Meet the CIO | Healthbridge CTO Anton Fatti on the future of digital health

      23 March 2026
      TCS+ | Arctic Wolf unpacks the evolving threat landscape for SA businesses - Clare Loveridge and Jason Oehley

      TCS+ | Arctic Wolf unpacks the evolving threat landscape for SA businesses

      19 March 2026
      TCS+ | Vox Kiwi: a wireless solution promising a fibre-like experience - Theo van Zyl

      TCS+ | Vox Kiwi: a wireless solution promising a fibre-like experience

      13 March 2026
      TCS+ | Flipping the narrative on AI in the Global South - Josefin Rosén

      TCS+ | Flipping the narrative on AI in the Global South

      13 March 2026
      TCS | Sink or swim? Antony Makins on how AI is rewriting the rules of work

      TCS | Sink or swim? Antony Makins on how AI is rewriting the rules of work

      5 March 2026
    • Opinion
      South Africa's energy future hinges on getting wheeling right - Aishah Gire

      South Africa’s energy future hinges on getting wheeling right

      10 March 2026
      Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback - Duncan McLeod

      Apple just dropped a bomb on the Windows world

      5 March 2026
      VC's centre of gravity is shifting - and South Africa is in the frame - Alison Collier

      VC’s centre of gravity is shifting – and South Africa is in the frame

      3 March 2026
      Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback - Duncan McLeod

      Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback

      26 February 2026
      The AI fraud crisis your bank is not ready for - Andries Maritz

      The AI fraud crisis your bank is not ready for

      18 February 2026
    • Company Hubs
      • 1Stream
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • Ascent Technology
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • HOSTAFRICA
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • IQbusiness
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • Mitel
      • NEC XON
      • Netstar
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Telviva
      • 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
      • HealthTech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Policy and regulation
      • 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

    Follow TechCentral on Google News Add TechCentral as your preferred source on Google


    Gour Lentell Meta Platforms MoyaApp MoyaPay WeChat WhatsApp
    WhatsApp YouTube
    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

    Big Tech's Big Tobacco moment has arrived

    Big Tech’s Big Tobacco moment has arrived

    27 March 2026
    Jury finds Meta enabled child exploitation

    Jury finds Meta enabled child exploitation

    25 March 2026
    Meta planning layoffs that could hit 20% of workforce

    Meta planning layoffs that could hit 20% of workforce

    16 March 2026
    Company News
    Durban's finance leaders are done with AI theatre - Sage Intacct

    Durban’s finance leaders are done with AI theatre

    26 March 2026
    Defend your cloud with Altron Digital Business

    Defend your cloud with Altron Digital Business

    26 March 2026
    Why most Cisco partners leave money on the table at renewal time - Westcon-Comstor

    Why most Cisco partners leave money on the table at renewal time

    25 March 2026
    Opinion
    South Africa's energy future hinges on getting wheeling right - Aishah Gire

    South Africa’s energy future hinges on getting wheeling right

    10 March 2026
    Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback - Duncan McLeod

    Apple just dropped a bomb on the Windows world

    5 March 2026
    VC's centre of gravity is shifting - and South Africa is in the frame - Alison Collier

    VC’s centre of gravity is shifting – and South Africa is in the frame

    3 March 2026

    Subscribe to Updates

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

    Latest Posts
    The real reason Absa wrote off R2.4-billion in software - Johnson Idesoh

    The real reason Absa wrote off R2.4-billion in software

    27 March 2026
    MTN Group shakes up board with five new directors

    MTN Group shakes up board with five new directors

    27 March 2026
    Anoosh Rooplal

    TCS | Anoosh Rooplal on the Post Office’s last stand

    27 March 2026
    Global crackdown on children's screen time gathers pace

    Global crackdown on children’s screen time gathers pace

    27 March 2026
    © 2009 - 2026 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}