Newsroom

2022

21 April 2022

GovChat does not sell citizens’ personal data, says CEO
The citizen engagement platform allays personal data fears, saying it complies with all data privacy laws.

02 August 2022

GovChat inks five-year extension with COGTA
The partnership will be in effect for another five years, to deliver more services to the South African public.

15 June 2022

GovChat to be showcased at Las Vegas tech summit – Ventureburn
GovChat, an innovative citizen engagement platform, will exhibit at the Amazon re:Mars summit in Las Vegas next week.

27 July 2022

SA’s NHI needs collective will, shared data
Experts participated in an AWS Cloud Technology event on technology-enabled healthcare delivery this week.

13 June 2022

How a chatbot is improving citizen services and promoting active citizenry in South Africa | GovInsider
Eldrid Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of GovChat, shares how chatbot technology can help governments provide quicker citizen services, and hold governments accountable.

14 June 2022

SA’s GovChat platform to be featured at Las Vegas tech summit | TechMetro Africa – African Technology News
GovChat will be featured, and invited to share its success story at the Amazon re:Mars summit to be held on 21-24 June 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

15 March 2022

GovChat statement on Competition Commission referring Facebook for prosecution

GovChat welcomes the Competition Commission statement made on 14 March 2022. The Commission announced that it has referred, Meta Platforms Inc (previously known as Facebook Inc), and its subsidiaries, WhatsApp Inc and Facebook South Africa (collectively referred to as Facebook) for abuse of dominance to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution. 

Press ReleaseDownload

14 April 2022

Victory over Facebook came at massive cost, says GovChat
The two-year legal battle, described as a “David vs Goliath” saga, was financially and emotionally taxing, says GovChat founder Eldrid Jordaan.

15 March 2022

Why the South African Government is Going After Facebook & Meta
South Africa’s Competition Commission is reportedly going after the Facebook and WhatApp parent company, Meta, for alleged violation of the Competition Act through “abuse of dominance”. According to eNCA, the commission wants the company to pay South Africa over 10 percent of its turnover. The commi…

15 March 2022

GovChat: Competition Commission sets eyes on Facebook and WhatsApp
The Competition Commission believes Meta Platforms Inc has intended to offboard GovChat and referred it to the Competition Tribunal.

15 March 2022

Facebook / Meta to be Prosecuted for Abusing its Dominance in South Africa
South Africa’s Competition Commission announced in a statement on Monday that it has referred Meta Platforms and its subsidiaries – WhatsApp and Facebook South Africa (collectively referred to by the Commission as Facebook) – for abuse of dominance in the country. The Commission alleges that Faceboo…

15 March 2022

South Africa prosecutes Facebook for ‘abuse of dominance’
Facebook parent Meta Platforms has been referred by the Competition Commission for prosecution for alleged “abuse of dominance”.

15 March 2022

Facebook to be prosecuted in South Africa
The Competition Commission has referred to the Competition Tribunal for the prosecution of the social media giant, Meta Platforms, and its subsidiaries, WhatsApp Inc and Facebook South Africa for abuse of dominance.

15 March 2022

Facebook faces prosecution in SA over dominance abuse
The Competition Commission refers to the Tribunal for prosecution of the social media giant and its subsidiaries for abuse of dominance.

15 March 2022

GovChat: SA competition watchdog wants WhatsApp to cough up for abusing market dominance | Fin24
The Competition Commission found that WhatsApp is abusing its market dominance by threatening to remove government’s digital platform GovChat from its business application.

15 March 2022

Competition Commission refers Meta for prosecution over GovChat removal
The commission alleges that in mid-2020, Facebook decided to remove GovChat and #letstalk, a technology start-up that connects government and people, from the WhatsApp business application programming interface. The move, the commission said, contravened the Competition Act.

15 March 2022

South Africa regulator refers Meta to tribunal over dominance
JOHANNESBURG, March 14 (Reuters) – South Africa’s Competition Commission on Monday said it had referred Facebook and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms FB.O to a tribunal for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the market. But a spokesperson for WhatsApp said the regulator was objecting to actions…

15 March 2022

South Africa’s Competition Commission goes after Facebook – Sowetan
Meta, formerly known as Facebook Inc, has been referred to the Competition Tribunal for alleged abuse of dominance.

15 March 2022

Meta faces prosecution in South Africa for alleged antitrust breach – TechCrunch
Meta is facing prosecution in South Africa, after the country’s competition regulator, the Competition Commission, found as uncompetitive its intention to block the government’s startup GovChat and #LetsTalk from using its WhatsApp Business API. The watchdog, which has been investigating claims of …

15 March 2022

Facebook To Be Prosecuted In South Africa For “Abusing Its Dominance”
Meta Platforms and its WhatsApp subsidiary has been found to be anticompetitive by South Africa’s Competition Commission, which has referred the social giant to the Competition Tribunal “for prosecution… for abuse of dominance”.

15 March 2022

South Africa regulator refers Meta to tribunal over dominance
South Africa’s Competition Commission on Monday said it had referred Facebook and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms to a tribunal for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the market.

15 March 2022

South Africa’s Competition Commission goes after Facebook
Meta, formerly known as Facebook Inc, has been referred to the Competition Tribunal for alleged abuse of dominance.

15 March 2022

Competition Commission | Zuckerberg’s Meta to be prosecuted in SA
Govchat’s lawyer Pooja Dela-cron, Webber Wentzel partner spoke with ETV’s Annika Larsen about the case. Courtesy of #DStv403

15 March 2022

Competition Commission wants Facebook, WhatsApp prosecuted for market abuse
The commission has asked the Competition Tribunal to impose a maximum penalty against Meta Platforms, WhatsApp and Facebook South Africa, which is 10% of their collective turnover

10 March 2022

WHY SOCIAL IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES ARE A GAME CHANGER FOR AFRICA

Listen to Episode…

15 March 2022

FACEBOOK PROSECUTED FOR ABUSING ITS DOMINANCE

The Competition Commission has referred to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution of the social media giant, Meta Platforms (previously known as Facebook), and its subsidiaries, WhatsApp Inc and Facebook South Africa (collectively referred to as Facebook) for abuse of dominance.

Press ReleaseDownload

2021

25 November 2021

GOVCHAT RESPONDS TO FALSE ALLEGATIONS IN THE FINANCIAL MAIL

GovChat has noted the article titled “Inside SA’s Welfare Industrial Complex” published by the Financial Mail on 25 November 2021.

The article is based on a report issued by Open Secrets that unfairly tries to paint GovChat as a “data profiteer” and seeks to draw a number of adverse inferences about GovChat and its business model.

GOVCHAT STATEMENT-NOV 2021Download

22 September 2021

United Nations GovChat Signing Ceremony – Resident Coordinator’s Address
Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in South Africa, Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, addresses the United Nations GovChat signing ceremony held on the 16th …

17 November 2021

Tribunal extends GovChat’s stay on WhatsApp
The Competition Tribunal extends GovChat’s interim relief order in the Facebook and WhatsApp matter, but declines a request for a variation.

21 September 2021

GovChat CEO Address to United Nations
GovChat CEO Eldrid Jordaan’s address at the United Nations GovChat signing ceremony held on the 16th of September 2021.Visit:www.govchat.appwww.govchat.org

22 September 2021

United Nations GovChat Signing Ceremony – Minister Lindiwe Zulu Speech
Minister of Social Development in South Africa Minister Lindiwe Zulu’s address at the United Nations GovChat signing ceremony held on the 16th of September 2…

17 September 2021

GovChat joins hands with the United Nations in South Africa in connecting 8 million citizens and the Government
The United Nations in South Africa yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GovChat, the official citizen engagement digital platform for ordinary South Africans with their government. So far, GovChat has amassed over eight million users since it was launched in 2017, three million of the…

17 September 2021

GovChat to provide UN with decision-making citizen data
The national citizen engagement platform signs an agreement to supply the UN with data to understand social experiences faced by South Africans.

1 September 2021

Cyber bullying, GBV reports spike during Women’s Month
GovChat and the South African Women in ICT Forum reveal gender-based violence and cyber bullying spiked in August, as SA marked Women’s Month.

1 September 2021

GovChat accessed by over 8m users
The official citizen engagement platform for the South African government reveals more than eight million people are part of its active-user base.

27 July 2021

MEDIA STATEMENT | GovChat (PTY) LTD succeeds in having interdict application dismissed

GovChat welcomes the order of Judge Francis in the Cape Town High Court, handed down on 22 July 2021, in which Judge Francis dismissed an urgent interdict brought against GovChat by Silvergrey (Pty) Ltd. Silvergrey has also alleged certain rights in the GovChat platform, such claims similarly being defended by GovChat.

GovChat-Media-Statement-July27Download

29 July 2021

Digital technologies underpin the future of education
Digital technologies and the cloud are becoming a permanent and increasingly important component of education.

8 May 2021

OPINION | Improvements through technology for SA’s most vulnerable, is the true meaning of freedom | News24
Technology has allowed for a new system, which empowers prospective Sassa temporary disability grant recipients to book medical assessments without having to physically visit their local Sassa offices, writes Busisiwe Memela.

22 July 2021

OPINION | Sassa’s new app gives people with disabilities the freedom they deserve
Sassa instituted a new app for those with disabilities to have access to their social grants. This was a huge step for the country’s digitisation project, writes Eldrid Jordaan.

29 April 2021

SASSA adds online feature to disability grants process
The social security agency partners with GovChat to pilot an online booking system for medical assessments for beneficiaries of disability-related grants.

28 April 2021

Sassa launches online booking system for disability grants
Sassa, in collaboration with GovChat, developed an online booking system, which will allow people to book for their medical assessments without visiting the local office.

4 April 2021

Brutal battle between WhatsApp and South Africa’s GovChat
Tech Giant, Facebook has been interdicted and restrained by the Competition Tribunal from removing GovChat from its Whatsapp Business account. For more, Foun…

27 March 2021

Social Media | Govchat granted interim relief against Facebook and WhatsApp removing it
Facebook SA and WhatsApp have been ordered not to remove GovChat WhatsApp messages on their platform. The Competition Tribunal granted the order after hearin…

30 March 2021

How GovChat, SASSA Used AWS Cloud To Facilitate Payments For COVID-19 Grants? | TechFinancials
The story behind the solution that assisted an estimated 10 million citizens to apply for COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grants.

25 March 2021

Facebook interdicted in fight with South Africa’s GovChat – TechCentral
Facebook has been interdicted and restrained by the Competition Tribunal from removing GovChat, a communications service used by the South African government, from its WhatsApp instant messaging platform.

8 March 2021

GovChat, Women in ICT Forum intro online GBV platform
GovChat and the South African Women in ICT Forum unveil their technological collaboration aimed at fighting the scourge of gender-based violence.

2020

15 Dec 2020

SASSA to extend online grant application services
The social security agency looks to make it possible to apply for disability-related grants via its online portal.

29 Oct 2020

The disconnected government
How has the public sector fared during lockdown? We asked a panel of experts.

4 Sept 2020

GovChat saves SASSA R7.5m through chatbot service
The citizen engagement platform has handled over 400 000 queries on behalf of SASSA, saving the agency R7.5 million through its automated contact centre.

10 August 2020

GovChat CEO: COVID Shows ‘Desperate Need’ To Digitise Gov’t Services
By 1 pm each day, Eldrid Jordaan has had about 12 different meetings. As the founder and CEO of GovChat, the official citizen engagement platform for the South African government, Jordaan is the man…

5 Aug 2020

GovChat gets global recognition with UNICEF partnership
The citizen engagement platform signs a partnership deal with UNICEF to advance child protection, youth engagement and social policy initiatives.

20 July 2020

GovChat steps in to help with SASSA’s FAQs
Govchat has partnered with SASSA to assist with frequently asked questions relating to inquiries on SRD grants. The service is available on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger…

21 June 2020

GovChat uses social media to help SASSA manage FAQs
The citizen engagement platform will assist SASSA in managing frequently asked questions about the R350 relief grant, via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

10 June 2020                                

GovChat uses Amazon’s serverless cloud system to process Sassa distress grants | Citypress
GovChat, the official citizen engagement platform of the South African government since 2018, has been helping South Africans navigate health and risk assessment virtually in the time of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

4 June 2020

COVID-19 catapults ICT adoption in government
The pandemic fast-tracked ICT processes within the public sector that would have otherwise taken a long time to be realised, says GovChat CEO Eldrid Jordaan.

2 June 2020

Capital Appreciation sees growth from GovChat adaptations for Covid-19
System meant to monitor service delivery now helps state to manage applications for R350 a month grant

27 May 2020

LOCKDOWN DIARIES: WhatsApp with the new grants? GovChat flooded by millions of messages
More than five million applications have been made to the South African Social Security Agency, Sassa, for Social Relief of Distress grants during the lockdown – 1.5 million of those on messaging services such as WhatsApp and Facebook, with more than 65 million messages received in total.

15 May 2020

Citizens turn to GovChat to find COVID-19 resources
The citizen engagement platform sees a spike in use, as citizens search for their closest COVID-19 public or private testing stations, or COVID-19 test results.

31 March 2020

2020-03-31-food-for-the-poor-and-hygiene-awareness-absa-on-covid-19
More than five million applications have been made to the South African Social Security Agency, Sassa, for Social Relief of Distress grants during the lockdown – 1.5 million of those on messaging services such as WhatsApp and Facebook, with more than 65 million messages received in total.

2019

3 Sept 2019

GovChat founder among four tech heads who’ll speak at WEF startups event today – Ventureburn
GovChat is among four startups invited to participate at a World Economic Forum on Africa’s startups pre-event which will be held later today.

4 July 2019

GovChat aims to get more ordinary citizens in touch with government
GovChat CEO Eldrid Jordaan talks about the citizen engagement platform which allows citizens to connect with government.

31 May 2019

R20m funding injection for GovChat
The government citizen engagement platform plans to boost operations, following a R20 million investment from Capital Appreciation.

29 April 2019

GovChat: SA launches project that allows citizens to WhatsApp politicans
The idea behind GovChat is that it will allow members of the public to contact politically-connected officials via WhatsApp.

2018

4 Oct 2018

WATCH: Thousands of South Africans join GovChat
Govchat said that they are very encouraged by the thousands of users that have registered and sent messages.

2017

30 March 2017

2017-03-30-00-govchat-site-for-sale-but-there-are-some-strings-attached
Govchat said that they are very encouraged by the thousands of users that have registered and sent messages.

2016

25 Oct 2016

South Africa: talk directly to local government | Brand South Africa
Millions of South Africans are online, which the country is exploiting to bring local government closer to the people. Residents can communicate directly with officials through a new digital platform, which allows them to send instant messages to ward councillors. Brand South Africa reporter Interne…