About Us
PrivateStayZA was established in 2022 with a mission to make finding and securing private accommodation more convenient, quick, and accessible for both tertiary students and young professionals. Recognizing the challenges these groups face in locating suitable housing, PrivateStayZA aims to revolutionize the accommodation experience by directly connecting them with private landlords via an intuitive digital platform.
PrivateStayZA is committed to bridging the gap between accommodation seekers and providers. Through an innovative website, users can effortlessly browse listings, book rooms, and make secure payments for quality private housing—all in one place. To ensure accessibility for individuals with limited internet, the platform is also available through WhatsApp, allowing both students and young professionals to explore and book accommodations seamlessly. This feature expands the platform’s reach, ensuring it is accessible to individuals from diverse economic backgrounds
The core mission of PrivateStayZA is to provide a safe, efficient, and reliable accommodation solution for students and young professionals across South Africa. Safety is prioritized through profile pictures, validated contact information, and secure ID checks for all users. To enhance security further, PrivateStayZA encourages all interactions to take place within the platform, safeguarding privacy
and promoting peace of mind. PrivateStayZA is more than a platform; it is a community uniting students, young professionals, landlords, and academic institutions with the shared vision of creating
a connected, safe, and supportive environment for all.
Meet Our Team
At PrivateStayZA , we believe that finding the perfect accommodation should be a hassle-free experience. Our team is composed of passionate professionals who are committed to delivering innovative solutions and top-notch services to meet your accommodation needs.
Sange Mafinyongwana
Co-Founder
Cell Phone : +27 63 091 6423 Email:sange.mafinyongwana@privatestayza.com
Inam Dyantyi
Social Media Manager
Cell Phone : +27 71 278 0573 Email:Inam.dyantyi@privatestayza.com
Mihlali Ngubo
Operations Manager
Cell Phone : +27 79 542 5311 Email:mihlali.ngubo@privatestayza.com
Mncedi Sipunzi
Co-Founder
Cell Phone : +27 68 268 3272 Email:mncedi.sipunzi@privatestayza.com
Your Seamless Housing Connection with PrivateStayZA
At PrivateStayZA, we connect landlords with high-quality, committed tenants through a seamless process, helping you avoid time wasted on unsuitable inquiries. Here’s what you can expect as a landlord on our platform:
For Landlords
Tenant Profiles: Each tenant profile includes essential details to help you assess suitability quickly:
- Profile picture
- Name
- Ideal move-in date and preferred lease duration
- Status (student or young professional)
- Institution (for students) and academic level (undergrad or postgrad)
- Rent payer information (self or guardian)
Secure Connections: Tenants initiate contact through PrivateStay chat, allowing for direct communication to answer questions and establish trust. You’ll receive an email and Whatsapp alert for each inquiry or message, with a 48-hour window to respond to ensure a fast, effective process.
Support Team: Our dedicated support team is available throughout the process. We only charge when a tenant that meets your requirements secures the accommodation—if no match is found, there’s no fee.
For Prospective Tenants
PrivateStayZA partners with various private colleges and universities across South Africa, with listings tailored to your campus location for convenience.
- Location-Based Search: Each listing includes a map view, so you can see how close the accommodation is to your institution by walking or driving.
- Verified Landlords: We verify each landlord's phone, email, and ID, and recommend that you keep all communication within PrivateStay chat for additional security.
After completing a booking inquiry form, you’ll initiate contact with the landlord. Landlords have 48 hours to respond, after which you’ll receive email and WhatsApp updates. You can also set an alert to be notified of new listings that match your criteria.
Booking Statuses at PrivateStayZA
We’ve got some easy-to-follow booking statuses to keep you in the loop! Here’s how
it works:
Pending⏰
Congratulations, this means that you have either sent or received a booking enquiry. If you’re a tenant, you need to wait for the landlord to reply with the 48 hour time window. If you’re a landlord, you need to reply to the tenant’s message to avoid the booking enquiry expiring in the 48-hour window.
Connected⏰
Yippee, this means that the landlord has replied to the tenant and you are now connected and ready to take over the world.. Or at least start communications for your next digs
Confirmed✅
Hooray! This means that either the landlord or tenant has confirmed that the booking enquiry was successful, and you’ve sealed the deal.
Cancelled👎
Ah man, this means that either the landlord or tenant has cancelled the booking enquiry either before or after receiving a reply. If you’re a tenant you can still resend the enquiry if you’d like.
Expired⌛
This means that the landlord didn’t respond to the tenant’s inquiry message within 48 hours. If you’re a tenant you can still resend the enquiry if you’d like.
Denied😶
Woops! This means that the landlord received the enquiry but chose to decline it. Oftentimes this is because the property is full, or no longer available.