SA Launches Its First Fully Afrikaans Car-trading Platform

South Africa has just launched its first fully Afrikaans car-trading platform, marking a big moment for local car buyers and sellers who prefer doing business in Afrikaans. This new online platform, called Stuurwiel, is the first of its kind in the country and is designed to make buying and selling cars easier for Afrikaans speakers. SA launches its first fully Afrikaans car-trading platform at a time when more people are looking for services in their own languages, not just English.

Stuurwiel was created by the same team behind ChangeCars.co.za, a well-known name in the South African car market. The founders saw that Afrikaans, which is the first language for about 10.6% of the population, is often overlooked when it comes to online services. Many Afrikaans speakers are active online, using mobile apps and social media, and about 76% have access to Wi-Fi. With around 12 million registered vehicles in South Africa, there is a clear need for platforms that make car trading simple and comfortable for Afrikaans speakers.

Read Next: M-KOPA Accused of Racial Discrimination in Share Structure

Michael Pashut, the founder and CEO of both ChangeCars and Stuurwiel, explained that Stuurwiel was built “with the Afrikaans community in mind, from how it looks and feels to how it speaks.” Everything on the platform is in clear, pure Afrikaans, without mixing in English slang or borrowed words. The team wanted to show that Afrikaans can handle every part of the online car trade, from funny ads to serious deals, and even give special attention to uniquely South African terms like “bakkie”.

SA launched the first fully Afrikaans car-trading platform not just to fill a language gap, but also to celebrate culture and make people feel at home when trading cars online. The platform is mobile-friendly, making it easy for users who mostly browse on their phones. The creators worked with Elemental, a Cape Town-based tech company, to make sure the platform is modern, easy to use, and proudly Afrikaans from start to finish. Angelo Zanetti, CEO of Elemental, said this was a passion project for their team, aiming to show that technology should work for people, not the other way around.

Read Next: Court Rejects Access Bank’s Request to Freeze MTN Nigeria’s Accounts Over N180.95bn Debt

SA’s first fully Afrikaans car-trading platform is also part of a bigger trend in South Africa, where businesses are trying to be more inclusive and meet people where they are. As more South Africans get online, there’s a growing demand for digital experiences that respect language and culture. Stuurwiel is ready to meet that demand, with plans to expand in the future so even more people can use a platform that truly speaks their language.

With its launch, Stuurwiel is making history as SA launches its first fully Afrikaans car-trading platform. It’s a sign that the country’s digital world is becoming more diverse and welcoming, giving Afrikaans speakers a place where they can buy and sell cars with confidence and ease. For many, this is more than just a website, it’s a community built around language, trust, and a love for cars.

Was this information useful? Drop a nice comment below. You can also check out other useful contents by following us on X/Twitter @siliconafritech, Instagram @Siliconafricatech, or Facebook @SiliconAfrica.