Tripco, the owner of the local online accommodation booking platform LekkeSlaap, has appointed a new chief executive officer after 17 years.
The group announced that Frans Joubert will succeed the platform’s co-founders and co-CEOs, Jonathan Womersley and Marcel van de Ghinste.
Joubert is a qualified chartered accountant and has been serving as Tripco’s Chief Financial Officer since 2020.
Tripco said that Womersley and Van de Ghinste will remain as board members and advisors.
The travel technology company said that Joubert will guide the business as it further enhances its operations, solidifies its market standing, and broadens its reach throughout the wider Southern African region.
Former co-CEOs Womersley and Van de Ghinste expressed confidence about the company’s future as they hand over their positions to Joubert.
“Tripco has grown into a business we are incredibly proud of, with a strong team, a resilient operating model, and a brand in LekkeSlaap that truly resonates with South Africans,” said Womersley.
“As we look ahead, the mission is to continue scaling the platform while maintaining the discipline and focus that have underpinned our success to date,” said Van de Ghinste.
“We are excited to hand over executive leadership of the business to Frans as we enter this next phase of growth, and to see him continue to build on the strong foundation that’s been established,” he said.
Joubert also remains optimistic and said he is particularly enthusiastic about finding value where people and technology meet, as he assumes this new position.
“For me, it is all about enablement. When we do our job well, we not only help guests enjoy unforgettable experiences but also enable thousands of small businesses across South Africa to earn a sustainable income,” said Joubert.
Joubert explained that a significant amount of revenue leaves the local economy through international platforms.
“My mission is to ensure more of it stays on our shores, and being backed by an exceptional, proudly South African team with bespoke, world-class technology, we have built a rare local champion in this space,” he said.
South Africa’s local booking platform
Tripco’s booking platform, LekkeSlaap, launched in 2013 as South Africa’s first Afrikaans leisure accommodation booking platform.
Initially designed for Afrikaans users, the platform quickly evolved and attracted both local and international English-speaking visitors, offering bilingual services.
According to its latest website update, LekkeSlaap has welcomed over 7 million guests and currently employs 170 staff members.
Users can choose from more than 38,000 accommodation establishments available on the site.
Despite Airbnb’s 2015 entry into the local market, which posed a significant challenge to traditional accommodation platforms, LekkeSlaap remains one of South Africa’s largest accommodation platforms.
Users and accommodation hosts frequently commend the platform for its competitive pricing, extensive accommodation selection, high-quality customer support, and reasonable commission structure.
The company has been recognised as South Africa’s Leading Online Travel Agency at the World Travel Awards for the last three consecutive years.
On the Google Play Store, the LekkeSlaap app has been downloaded over 500,000 times and, in March 2026, it ranked as the tenth most popular free travel app for Android in South Africa.
The platform has a user rating of 4.7 out of 5 on the Google Play Store and 4.8 out of 5 on the Apple App Store.
According to Chief Marketing Officer Gerriline Fouché, the LekkeSlaap Rewards program, which offers exclusive discounts and free travel vouchers, has also been a significant attraction for users.
The company offers technology that supports various travel platforms, including Flight Centre, First Car and Van Rental, Sanlam Reality, and Edgars Club.
