A new chapter in South Africa’s tech space has been written with the imminent launch of Skhokho 2.0, an all-in-one business management platform designed by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs.
The brainchild of Bertha Kgokong, a chemical engineer turned self-taught software developer, the platform aims to formalise and scale South African small businesses.
The platform’s name, “Skhokho”, a powerful slang term for “a boss” or “a top dog”, is a deliberate choice by Kgokong, a black woman who has navigated and overcome significant barriers in the tech industry.
“I wanted an authentic South African name that would be instantly recognisable but also spark curiosity,” says Kgokong.
“Skhokho embodies the spirit of our culture and the ambition of every entrepreneur who wants to be a champion in their field. More importantly, it signals that world-class software can be built right here at home.”
Skhokho 2.0 integrates CRM, HR, project management, and accounting into a single, affordable interface. Its game-changer is a deep AI integration, allowing users to manage core functions through natural language commands to generate meeting summaries, create contacts, draft invoices, and conduct research.
“Our goal is to eliminate administrative friction,” explains Kgokong.
“By making administration conversational and fast, we free entrepreneurs to do what they do best, focus on growth, strategy, and serving their customers. This is about levelling the playing field with technology.”
Kgokong’s journey began with her company, Tati Digital Software Development.
Her path has been marked by a relentless drive to innovate against significant hurdles, including scepticism as a black woman in tech and having promotional accounts for her product, MobileGPT, banned by major platforms.
“These challenges fuelled my resilience,” Kgokong states. “It indicates you have something great to offer when these systems can’t categorise you. I’ve doubled down on earning trust through results, proving that our nation can be a supplier of premium technology to the world.”
The launch is poised to create lasting socio-economic impact by helping SMEs operate efficiently and formalise their businesses. Looking ahead, Kgokong is optimistic about the future of AI in business.
“I see chatbot technology and AI being widely adopted across many industries, in fact it already is, and I firmly believe this movement will create more jobs than it threatens,” she states.
The legacy Kgokong hopes to build is one of empowerment.
“I want Skhokho to be remembered as the first South African cloud-based software product to scale globally, and to inspire a new generation of African women and entrepreneurs to build products that change the world,” she concludes.
Skhokho 2.0 will launch at GIBS on August 21, 2025, with Clement Manyathela as host.
The event champions entrepreneurship as a key driver of change, featuring speakers like Professor Bonang Mohale, Rapelang Rabana, and Keitumetse Lekaba—each offering insights into business, innovation, and opportunity in South Africa.
