In one of South Africa’s most significant travel and technology transactions of the year, LekkeSlaap has been acquired by a consortium of leading local investors, backing the homegrown accommodation platform for its next phase of growth.
This transaction marks the exit of co-founders Jonathan Womersley and Marcel van de Ghinste, alongside other long-standing shareholders. It closes the chapter on an extraordinary entrepreneurial journey that began with a garage-based travel tech startup in 2009 and ultimately grew into LekkeSlaap, one of South Africa's most recognisable online travel brands, launched in 2013. Today, LekkeSlaap connects travellers with more than 40,000 properties throughout Southern Africa and has served over 9 million guests since inception.
The acquiring consortium is co-led by South African investment firms Bellair Road Investment Partners and Janic Capital, alongside the Ferreira Family Office, the Moolman Family Office and Investec. LekkeSlaap’s executive management team has also invested alongside the consortium and will continue to lead the business.
Bellair Road Investment Partners focuses on long-term growth investments, with an investment track record that includes Montego Pet Nutrition, Econofoods, Freedom of Movement and others.
Janic Capital is the Dippenaar family's investment vehicle, led by Adriaan Dippenaar. Drawing on the family's history in South African financial services, it brings an owner-minded, long-term approach to backing LekkeSlaap and its management team.
PSG Capital and ENS supported the transaction and advised the sellers, while Werksmans, Deloitte and Scrums.com advised the acquiring consortium.
“To see LekkeSlaap grow from a small startup into a brand used and loved by millions of South Africans has been incredibly rewarding,” says Womersley. “After so many years, finding new owners who share our culture, values and vision for the business matters enormously to us. We genuinely believe we have found the right long-term owners for LekkeSlaap, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what the management team and the new owners build from here.”
Backing South African excellence for the long term
The acquisition keeps LekkeSlaap firmly in South African hands while combining long-term local capital with an experienced leadership team and ambitious plans for the platform’s future.
“LekkeSlaap is a proudly South African success story, and one that millions of travellers know and love,” says Marcel Boezaart, Partner at Bellair Road Investment Partners. “We are grateful to be entrusted with this wonderful brand, and excited to build on the foundations laid by Jonathan, Marcel and the team to create an enduring South African technology champion.”
LekkeSlaap will continue to be led by CEO Frans Joubert and the existing executive team, ensuring continuity as it moves into the next chapter, with the investor group supporting further scaling while preserving the company’s core culture.
“This transaction marks an exciting new chapter in an exceptional South African entrepreneurial story,” says Joubert. “LekkeSlaap remains proudly local and independent in spirit, but with the right partners behind us, we can now dream even bigger.”
An experienced board to support LekkeSlaap’s next chapter
To support the executive team through this next growth phase, LekkeSlaap has strengthened its board by appointing two prominent South African business leaders known for investing in and scaling high-growth companies alongside members of the investment consortium.
Corporate veteran and Chairman of the OUTsurance Group and Fortress Real Estate, and former CEO of RMB Holdings and RMI Holdings, Herman Bosman, has been appointed Chairman of LekkeSlaap. He is joined on the board by Robert Paddock, prominent edtech entrepreneur and co-founder of GetSmarter (acquired by 2U) and Valenture Institute. Both Herman, through Atelier Partners, and Robert have also invested alongside the new investors. “
LekkeSlaap is a great example of what South African entrepreneurs can build when they combine a strong customer proposition with persistence and ambition,” says Bosman. “I am excited to join LekkeSlaap as chairman and to guide and support Frans, the management team, and fellow shareholders as LekkeSlaap enters its next phase of growth.”
For LekkeSlaap's millions of guests, thousands of hosts, and industry partners, operations remain unchanged as the platform continues to deliver reliable booking experiences and exceptional customer service, while the new investment gives LekkeSlaap greater capacity to scale its ambitions and accelerate its growth.
“Our ambition is simple: to put Africa on the map,” says Joubert. “This next chapter gives us the opportunity to expand further across Southern Africa, invest more deeply in technology and localisation, and create even better experiences for our guests and hosts. Despite everything LekkeSlaap has already achieved, I genuinely believe our most exciting years are still ahead of us.”
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