South African accommodation booking platform LekkeSlaap has been acquired by a consortium of local investors, marking one of the country's most significant travel and technology transactions of the year. The deal enables the exit of co-founders Jonathan Womersley and Marcel van de Ghinste, alongside other long-standing shareholders, while the existing executive team remains in place. The buyers aim to support the homegrown platform's next phase of growth across Southern Africa.
Transaction Structure and Investors
The acquiring consortium is co-led by Bellair Road Investment Partners and Janic Capital, the Dippenaar family investment vehicle led by Adriaan Dippenaar. It also includes the Ferreira Family Office, the Moolman Family Office, and Investec. LekkeSlaap's executive management team has invested alongside the consortium and will continue to lead the business, though the transaction value was not disclosed.
Investor Profiles and Long-Term Focus
Bellair Road Investment Partners focuses on long-term growth investments, with a portfolio that includes Montego Pet Nutrition, Econofoods, and Freedom of Movement. Janic Capital brings an owner-minded, long-term approach drawn from the Dippenaar family's history in South African financial services. LekkeSlaap's management team has also invested, aligning operational leadership with the new ownership structure.
Company Origins and Market Position
LekkeSlaap began as a garage-based travel tech startup in 2009 and launched as a consumer brand in 2013. Today, it connects travelers with more than 40,000 properties throughout Southern Africa and has served over 9 million guests since inception. The platform competes with global players such as Booking.com and Airbnb but remains a proudly South African success story.
Leadership Continuity and New Board
CEO Frans Joubert and the existing executive team will continue to run LekkeSlaap, ensuring continuity for guests, hosts, and partners. Herman Bosman, chairman of OUTsurance Group and Fortress Real Estate and former CEO of RMB Holdings and RMI Holdings, has been appointed chairman. Edtech entrepreneur Robert Paddock, co-founder of GetSmarter and Valenture Institute, joins the board, and both directors have invested through their respective vehicles.
Founder Reflections
Co-founder Jonathan Womersley described the growth from a small startup to a brand used and loved by millions of South Africans as incredibly rewarding. He said finding new owners who share the company's culture, values, and vision mattered enormously to the founders. Womersley added that the right long-term owners have been found for LekkeSlaap, and the team is excited to see what management and investors build next.
Advisors and Transaction Scope
PSG Capital and ENS supported the transaction and advised the sellers, while Werksmans, Deloitte, and Scrums.com advised the acquiring consortium. The acquisition covers all of Tripco, LekkeSlaap's parent company, for which LekkeSlaap is the main consumer-facing brand. This structure transfers the entire company and its consumer-facing operations to the new investor group.
Growth Ambitions
CEO Frans Joubert said the new backing gives LekkeSlaap greater capacity to scale its ambitions and accelerate growth. The company plans to expand further across Southern Africa, invest more deeply in technology and localization, and create better experiences for guests and hosts. The investor group supports scaling while preserving the company's core culture and proudly local identity.
The acquisition keeps LekkeSlaap firmly in South African hands and pairs long-term local capital with an experienced leadership team. With new board leadership, continued management, and a clear regional growth mandate, the platform is positioned to strengthen its role in Southern African travel. The transaction closes a successful founder chapter while opening what stakeholders describe as the brand's most exciting years ahead.