Buying Back SA Tech from Durban

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Ends:

Format: In person

Location: Jonsson Workwear Ballito Store, Ballito Business Park, 7 Moffat Dr, Ballito, 4420, South Africa, Ballito

Organiser: The Open Letter

About this event

Gumtree was South African. Then for 18 years it wasn't. In 2022 a Durban company bought it back. Everyone assumes you have to be in Cape Town or Joburg to build something that matters. Ignition Group has quietly disproved that from Umhlanga, with over 4,000 people and a portfolio that now includes Gumtree, Spot Money and Spot Mobile. For the first time ever, The Open Letter is coming to KwaZulu-Natal. Pedro Casimiro , Business Lead at Gumtree South Africa , joins us for the anchor fireside conversation of the evening. We get into the real question: why buy a 25 year old classifieds brand back from its offshore owner, what Ignition saw in it that others didn't, and what has actually changed since it returned to local hands. From there we go wider. Where marketplaces are heading in the age of AI, what it takes to run a business at that scale out of KZN, and why a growing number of founders are choosing to build here rather than leave. We are also joined by a panel of early stage tech founders building in the province, on what KZN gives them and what it still costs them. Whether you are building your first company, scaling a startup, or driving growth inside an established business, you will leave with something you can use on Monday. Event details 📅 Thursday, 1 October 2026 🕕 18:00 to 21:00 📍 Jonsson Workwear Ballito Store, Ballito Business Park Tickets are R150. Seats are limited. Come for the conversations. Leave with ideas, connections and insight that help you build something that lasts.

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