About Ziyawa
Your Event Operating System — built in South Africa, for South Africa.
Our Vision
A South Africa where the entire event ecosystem thrives on one platform — where organizers, artists, crew, and groovists all have the tools they need to create, perform, work, and experience unforgettable events.
Our Mission
To give South Africa's entertainment industry better ways to organize, promote, discover, and experience events. Better ways to get booked and get paid — with every transaction protected and every participant valued.
The Problem
South Africa's event industry is fragmented. Organizers juggle multiple platforms to sell tickets, book artists, and hire vendors. Artists struggle to get discovered. Service providers chase invoices. And groovists never know if an event is legit until they show up.
Our Solution
Ziyawa brings everything into one platform. Create events, sell tickets, book talent, hire crew, and manage payments — all in one place. Every payment is secured through escrow — organizers pay upfront for bookings, artists and crew get paid after the event, and ticket revenue releases once the event is done. Everyone is protected, and every groovist can trust what they're paying for.
What “Ziyawa” Means
“Ziyawa” is South African slang — it means “it's going down” or “things are moving.” It captures the energy of a great event — when the music hits right, the crowd is alive, and everything just flows. That's the feeling we're building toward.
Who We Serve
Groovists
Event-goers who want to discover, book, and attend events with confidence. Browse events across South Africa, buy tickets securely, and know exactly what you're walking into — with real reviews, verified organizers, and digital QR tickets.
Organizers
From first-time hosts to seasoned promoters. Create events, sell tickets, book artists, hire crew, and manage everything from a single dashboard. Ticket revenue is held safely and released to you after the event.
Artists
Musicians, DJs, MCs, and performers who want to get booked and paid reliably. Build your profile, showcase your work, set your rates, and receive booking requests directly through the platform. The organizer pays upfront — you get paid after the event.
Crew
Sound engineers, lighting techs, caterers, photographers, security, and all the professionals who make events happen. Get hired directly for event staff roles, list your own bookable services, or do both — all through a single crew profile.
What You Can Do on Ziyawa
One platform for the entire event lifecycle — from planning to payout.
Sell & Buy Tickets
Create multiple ticket types, set capacities, and sell directly to groovists. Buyers get digital tickets with unique QR codes.
Book Talent & Crew
Browse artist and crew directories. Send booking requests, negotiate terms, and pay securely through the platform.
QR Check-In
Scan attendee QR codes at the door for fast, reliable check-in. Track attendance in real time from your dashboard.
Wallet & Payouts
All earnings go to your Ziyawa wallet. Withdraw to your bank account anytime — with full transaction history.
Direct Messaging
Message organizers, artists, and crew directly on the platform. Coordinate bookings, ask questions, and stay connected.
Reviews & Ratings
Leave reviews after events. Organizers, artists, and crew all build public track records that help the community make better choices.
Escrow Payments
Every payment is held in escrow. Booking payments release after the event. Ticket revenue releases 48 hours after completion. Everyone is protected.
Ziwaphi AI Assistant
Ask Ziwaphi to help you find events by date, location, genre, or vibe. A conversational way to discover what’s happening near you.
Event Discovery
Search and filter events by province, date, price range, or keyword. Find exactly what you’re looking for across South Africa.
How Payments Work
Every rand on Ziyawa is processed through Paystack and protected by our escrow system.
Groovists buy tickets
Payment goes through Paystack. The money is held in escrow — not in the organizer's pocket — until after the event.
Organizers book artists & crew
The organizer pays upfront. Those funds are also held in escrow — the artist or crew member doesn't receive the money yet.
The event happens
Groovists attend, artists perform, crew delivers. Everyone does their part.
Both sides confirm completion
For bookings, both the organizer and the artist or crew member confirm the work was done. This triggers the release process.
Everyone gets paid
Booking payments release to artists and crew. Ticket revenue releases to the organizer 48 hours after the event. Funds go to each person's Ziyawa wallet, ready to withdraw.
What Makes Ziyawa Different
Everything in One Place
Most platforms do one thing — sell tickets, or list artists, or manage bookings. Ziyawa handles the full event lifecycle: ticketing, talent booking, crew hiring, payments, messaging, reviews, and check-in. No switching between apps.
Nobody Gets Burned
Our escrow system means organizers can't disappear with booking money, and artists and crew can't get stiffed after doing the work. The money is always there — it just doesn't move until the event is done and both sides confirm.
Built for South Africa
Ziyawa is built in South Africa, processes payments in ZAR through Paystack, and is designed around how the local event industry actually works — from groove culture to service provider logistics.
Transparent Fees
No hidden costs. Ticket fees, booking commissions, and withdrawal charges are all published upfront on our pricing page. You always know what you're paying before you commit.
Built by Zande Technologies
Ziyawa is built and operated by Zande Technologies (Pty) Ltd, a South African technology company registered with CIPC (K2025834311) and the Information Regulator (2025-066656). We're based in South Africa and committed to building technology that serves our local entertainment industry.
For more information about Zande Technologies, visit zande.io.
Our Partners
Zande Technologies is proud to be in partnership with Rath Group (Pty) Ltd, working together to grow and strengthen South Africa's entertainment and events industry.
Get in Touch
You can also reach us through the support page when logged in.