Afrikaans dating proves to be a hit amongst South Africans

The past year has seen South African online dating shoot up in popularity by an impressive 38% thanks to the privacy, intimacy and security that the internet provides. Popular dating siteAfrikaansSingles.co.za has seen their subscriber base shoot up by 72% across all ages, incomes and locations – from 25 all the way up to the Goue Oues, from the city lights to the verdant veldt, and from bankers to farmers and beyond. They all have two things in common, a love of the language and the need for companionship.

“The site has been carefully designed to make all those who love and appreciate the Afrikaans language and culture feel instantly at home,” says Neil Stanley, CEO of AfrikaansSingles.co.za. “It’s free to join and we’ve implemented internationally recognised online dating protection protocols to ensure that our Afrikaans singles are treated with respect and that their privacy is secure.”

“South Africa may have been a little late to online dating relative to many other countries, but our numbers are showing that we are not being left behind at all. In fact, they are quite the opposite,” says Stanley.

Online dating makes life a lot easier for those seeking out companions that share similar interests, cultural preferences and language. AfrikaansSingles.co.za has tapped into a real need for people to fall in love with someone who speaks the same language at home, comes from the same background and enjoys similar activities.

“AfrikaansSingles was set up mainly for people whose first language was Afrikaans, but we find a lot of English-speaking customers joining the site too,” adds Stanley. “We had a gut feeling that there may be a specific market for people who want to meet and date Afrikaans speaking people. Many people perceive this to be the language of white South Africa, but 60% of people with Afrikaans as their home language do not sitting in the white category. It is a multi-cultural space that ignores boundaries and respects differences and beliefs.”

Many subscribers come from rural or farming communities that have very limited opportunities to meet a romantic interest. Increased access to, and understanding of, technology has allowed users more freedom to explore online dating opportunities and find that someone special to share their life.

“Technology has made life easier for everyone, and now we welcome people from all over the country, no matter how deep into the mountains, veld or fields,” says Stanley. “We predict that this trend will only continue to grow in South Africa, especially in the Afrikaans speaking market. Just a look at the phenomenal success of sites like Tinder, both locally and overseas, is a clear indication of how important online is when it comes to creating long lasting relationships with the right kinds of people.”