Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Categories
    • Categories
    • Africa
    • Air Freight
    • BEE
    • Border Beat
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Customs
    • Domestic
    • Duty Calls
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy/Fuel
    • Events
    • Freight & Trading Weekly
    • Imports and Exports
    • Infrastructure
    • International
    • Logistics
    • Other
    • People
    • Road/Rail Freight
    • Sea Freight
    • Skills & Training
    • Social Development
    • Technology
    • Trade/Investment
    • Webinars
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines
Africa
Technology

Durban duo buys out Gumtree SA

22 Jul 2022 - by Staff reporter
Ignition co-founders Sean and Donovan Bergsma. 
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

For the first time in 18 years, the ownership of Gumtree South Africa, South Africa's biggest online classified advertisement and community website, will be in the hands of South African owners.

The company, previously owned by American multinational e-commerce company eBay, and then Adevinta, has been bought by Impresa Capital, majority shareholders of the Ignition Group of companies based in Durban. Ignition was founded in 2002 by brothers Sean and Donovan Bergsma.

“This acquisition cements our strategy of investments in the technology and media sectors and provides our portfolio of businesses with a solid platform for growth. We plan to enable Gumtree customers to experience new ways of buying and selling through partnerships with the Ignition ecosystem of services,” says Sean Bergsma, CEO of Ignition Group.

Bergsma said he viewed the Gumtree acquisition as the ideal ‘next step’ to taking the business in new and exciting directions for the future and opening up a wealth of opportunities for Gumtree users through the platform.

“The accelerated growth of Gumtree on the African continent will see new jobs being created, and with the technology developed further using local South African talent, it means exciting times ahead for all stakeholders,” Bergsma said.

Claire Cobbledick, general manager of Gumtree SA, said that as a community-based marketplace, local expertise and knowledge presented a strategic advantage.

“And so, being acquired by a South African investor is an important and exciting next step for the Gumtree SA business. We look forward to unlocking synergies within the Ignition Group businesses and network,” she said.

Gumtree SA was launched in 2004 and remains one of the country’s top 10 favourite sites. The online classifieds platform helps millions of users and customers buy and sell second-hand goods daily.

The deal is still subject to final regulatory approvals.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

Tanzania eyes South African investors as US export tariffs loom

Imports and Exports
Trade/Investment
23 May 2025
0 Comments

New bridge heralds forward leap for Lake Vic logistics

Infrastructure
Logistics
Road/Rail Freight

It includes an additional 1.66 kilometres of connecting approach roads.

23 May 2025
0 Comments

Hammer and gavel wait for logistics parastatal's properties

Logistics

The ports and rail operator is disposing of residential houses, hostels, lodges and line camps.

23 May 2025
0 Comments

Presidency takes over oil and gas oversight in Namibia

Africa
Logistics

Logistics operators have said the president’s decision has clearly signalled the sector’s growing importance.

23 May 2025
0 Comments

South Africa bans Brazilian poultry imports

Imports and Exports

Trade has been suspended to prevent the spread of avian flu that the country is currently battling.

22 May 2025
0 Comments

Tanzania refutes reciprocal trade embargo against SA’s ‘banana ban’

Imports and Exports

Recent reports indicated that Tanzanian was considering restrictions on South African imports.

22 May 2025
0 Comments

Ramaphosa underpins importance of duty-free trade with the US

Economy
Trade/Investment

The current threat to the duty-free framework includes 32 other African economies.

22 May 2025
0 Comments

Godongwana’s fuel levy hike to hit consumers hard

Domestic
Economy
Energy/Fuel

The increase adds 16 cents and 15 cents to the price of petrol and diesel respectively.

22 May 2025
0 Comments

Efficiency key to logistics success as Namibia eyes growth

Africa
Logistics

It’s critical to address NTBs as a matter of urgency. – Harold Schmidt, NLA.

22 May 2025
0 Comments

Container vessel remains detained in Malaysia

Logistics
Sea Freight

The captain, a Russian national, failed to present any documents authorising the anchorage.

22 May 2025
0 Comments

Improved weather boosts soybean harvest across South Africa

Imports and Exports

Total deliveries last Friday were 1.5 million tonnes – a 10% increase on the same period last year.

22 May 2025
0 Comments

Trump meeting hailed as a ‘great success’

Trade/Investment

The president said the meeting had fulfilled South Africa’s key objectives to reset its relationship with the United States.

22 May 2025
0 Comments
  • More

FeatureClick to view

Namibia 23 May 2025

Border Beat

BMA steps in to help DG and FMCG cargo at Groblersbrug
21 May 2025
The N4 Maputo Corridor crossing – congestion, crime and potholes
12 May 2025
Fuel-crime curbing causes tanker build-up at Moz border
08 May 2025
More

Featured Jobs

New

JNR Seafreight Export Controller

Tiger Recruitment
Johannesburg (Linbro Park)
28 May
New

Supply Chain Specialist

Lee Botti & Associates
Cape Town
28 May
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us