Spaan: The new recruitment platform restoring trust in South Africa's job market
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.
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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.
siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za
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