Inside South Africa’s dating scene: Local apps & matchmakers
In the latest episode of Love, Dating & Chaos, Philicity Reeken explores what makes dating in South Africa unique — from proudly local apps like Smooches and Mingle to the real-life challenges of love, compatibility, and letting go.
When we think about dating apps or matchmaking services, our minds usually go to the big international names. But what about platforms built specifically for us? For South Africans?
This week, we’re looking a little closer to home.
In this episode of Love, Dating and Chaos, I put on my investigator hat — think Sherlock Holmes or Angela Lansbury, but the African edition — and try to find out if we, as South Africans, date differently.
Yes, there are loads of global platforms out there, but there are also homegrown options designed with us in mind.
I’m joined by two incredible women who have made a career out of getting people hitched. First up is Lieze Wolfaardt, the founder of Smooches — a proudly South African dating app that takes a more thoughtful approach to matching.
Then I chat to Michelle De Lange from Mingle — who is, wait for it, a real-life matchmaker. Not an algorithm, not a swipe. An actual human helping other humans find love. Imagine that.
And just to round things out, I’ve got a story from Xola Ntshinga, who shares his own very weird dating experience.
Trust me, you’ll want to hear it.
Listen to Love, Dating, and Chaos at the top of this page, or directly below, or find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube
Meanwhile, if you missed Episode 1 — I kicked things off with my bestie Stacey Norman, talking vulnerability, blocking your blessings, and the beautiful chaos of modern love. Catch up if you haven’t yet!