Latest news with #Nontso
The South African
17-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Have you heard about the local job seekers platform, Spaan?
Spaan is a South African job seekers platform tailored to the specific needs of people in the local job market. At the launch of this platform on 10 June in Rosebank, Johannesburg, founder Afika Nontso revealed how Spaan will operate. Spaan is an employment platform that connects verified job seekers with verified employers,' he said. The idea is that any crucial documentation you might need to acquire a job is vetted by Spaan. 'So, if you're a job seeker, then at the very least you can get your ID verified. If you are an organisation or a corporation, you have your CIPC verified.' All of this is facilitated through the Spaan platform. 'Employers are only able to see verified job seekers because that's our promise to employers. We are a platform that gives you verified job seekers and we will give you verified employers.' Much like most job seeker platforms, people in search of jobs are able to create profiles which are registered for free. 'They enter their experience, select opportunities, and enter their reference numbers. They're able to select their work locations once they've built up their profile. They're then able to upload documents, which they can then pay to use our verification services.' You can verify your ID, driver's licence, matric certificates, and the portal is also fitted to enable employers to run background checks. All this verification is compiled into what is referred to as the span report. 'It's a document that proves the verification data of an individual. So even if you were to speak to someone outside of the platform, you are able to then generate your span report and send it to any potential employer. 'This span report will be your voice; it will speak for you and prove to this employer that you are a verified individual. That employer would be able to see your verification statuses on the span report.' The same applies to employers who can register a profile of their business and offer genuine roles to job seekers who use Spaan. 'They can send job offers, connect with candidates, and generate reports of candidates in case they want to build up a list of people to hire,' he elaborated. Nontso described the platform as a turnkey solution, intending to build towards enabling psychometric tests as well. 'We've partnered with Managed Integrity Evaluation [MIE]. All of our verification services go through MIE as our trusted verification partner, and that's what we use to ensure the credibility of our verification.' In a country with unemployment sky rocketing, more platforms of this nature are necessary. Spaan does boast a lot of features you might find on LinkedIn, PNet or Gradesmatch for example. Beyond being a locally produced product, Nontso explained how Spaan goes above and beyond being simply just another platform for people to engage in the demands of the procedures of the job market. 'We're probably the only verification-led employment platform. The only employment platform that is accessible on USSD WhatsApp and via our web-based portal. 'We're the only inclusive employment platform which caters for both the informal and formal job market across any industry. Having both verified employers, real jobs and verified employees on the same page is what makes us different.' Find out more about Spaan on all social media sites, including their WhatsApp bot or dial *120*77226# to register. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Spaan: The new recruitment platform restoring trust in South Africa's job market
Founder Africa Nontso, alongside a team of industry experts, unveiled Spaan with a mission rooted in rebuilding the credibility of the digital recruitment landscape. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers In a market plagued by scams and fraudulent job schemes, the launch of Spaan, a verification-based online recruitment platform, offers a refreshing perspective aimed at restoring trust among both job seekers and employers. The launch event, held at Workshop 17 in Rosebank on Tuesday, came at a crucial time as South Africa grapples with an alarming rise in unemployment, which has surged from 31.9% to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Statistics South Africa. As expected, South Africans of all ages report in large numbers whenever a job opportunity arises, making the job market a cut-throat and dog-eat-dog business, while the trust deficit with other platforms plummets to an all-time low due to job scams and other fraudulent online schemes. Founder of Spaan, Africa Nontso, revealed that his platform is all about rebuilding trust, expanding the market while ensuring accessibility even to those in the rural areas due to extensive research of the needs of the country's dynamic job market, which cuts across various levels of occupations. "Spaan is about bringing trust back to the job market through three pillars as people no longer trust the job market due to level of trust deficit, and for us, trust is not where we end, but it is where we start as we want to build this market on trust and not on jobs," Nontso said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Nontso, who has worked in the IT industry for over 10 years, indicated that he spent over a year developing this platform in an attempt to bridge the gap between technology and accessibility. At the heart of Spaan is the Spaan Report, a shareable, verified profile that confirms a candidate's personal details, identity, and qualifications with verification statuses that give confidence that every candidate is exactly who they say they are. Furthermore, according to Tlali Taoana, head of the platform's marketing, Spaan is designed to reduce friction in hiring as it helps employers access credible, pre-vetted talent while giving job seekers a fair and trusted way to stand out and prove they're ready to work. "Spaan is inclusive by design. It works across devices and is accessible via mobile, USSD, and WhatsApp, ensuring reach even in communities with limited connectivity. Whether you are a domestic worker in Soweto, a technician in Polokwane, or a graduate in Cape Town, Spaan empowers you to show up with proof and be recognised in both the informal and formal job market. "Spaan isn't just a platform; it's a movement. We're reimagining how hiring works in this country. Being verified and trusted should be the standard, not the exception,' Taoana added.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
New platform Spaan opens new path for South African job seekers
With over 100 000 users in two months, Spaan is revolutionising job hunting in SA by providing verified, shareable profiles for job seekers. Founder and CEO of Spaan Afika Nontso with broadcaster Anele Mdoda at the media launch in Rosebank, Johannesburg on 10 June 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda Amid an above-30% youth unemployment crisis in South Africa, Spaan, the country's first verification-led employment platform, was yesterday officially launched in Johannesburg. Founder Afika Nontso said the platform was 'built to restore trust, dignity, expand access and connect job seekers to real opportunities'. Bridging the gap between tech and accessibility A SAP software product consultant and entrepreneur, Nontso has spent years working on innovative solutions that bridge the gap between technology and accessibility. With extensive experience in USSD, a communications protocol used by GSM cellphone projects, employment solutions and a 'passion for empowering underserved communities', Nontso said he has 'learnt how technology can give people access to jobs'. 'Within two months of being established, our registration has totalled 100 000. This is when I realised that a number of people are out there hungry for job opportunities. 'Verification, inclusivity and accessibility' 'Verification, inclusivity and accessibility is at the core of the platform,' said Nontso. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa urges employers to give BEEI youths their 'next opportunity' At the heart of the Spaan report is a shareable, verified profile, confirming a candidate's personal details, identity and qualifications. Spaan chief marketing officer Tlali Taoana said the platform was designed to 'reduce friction in hiring – helping employers access credible, pre-vetted talent, while giving job-seekers a fair and trusted way to stand out and prove they are ready to work'. Designed for all job markets Taoana said Spaan was inclusive by design, working across devices and accessible via mobile, USSD and WhatsApp. 'Whether you are a domestic worker in Soweto, a technician in Polokwane or a graduate in Cape Town, Spaan empowers you to show up with proof and be recognised in both the informal and formal job market. 'Through targeted national campaigns in townships, universities, informal markets and small, medium and micro enterprise networks, Spaan is already activating across the country connecting freelancers, tradespeople and professionals to meaningful employment.' For employers, Spaan simplifies recruitment, said Taoana. NOW READ: The dark picture of youth unemployment in South Africa
