More than 35 million South Africans are estimated to live in homes outside the formal property system. These include informal homes, RDP houses, backyard dwellings and homes on communal or rural land.

For many people, the challenge is not having a home, but being able to prove where they live. Without recognised proof of address, they may face barriers when accessing financial services, credit, insurance and other opportunities.

DigiDeeds is a South African technology company aiming to bridge this gap by creating digital home records verified through identity checks, location mapping and confirmation from neighbours.

We spoke to Jaco Carstens, co-founder and CEO of DigiDeeds and a former Credit Executive at Capitec, about how the platform works and whether it could help unlock financial opportunities for millions of South Africans.

• How it works: Users submit identification, pin their home's location, upload a photograph of the property and obtain confirmation from seven neighbours.

• What members receive: A DigiDeed certificate that provides a verified residential record. It is not a registered title deed and does not confer ownership of the land.

• Reported growth: Since launching in March 2026, DigiDeeds says it has attracted more than 4,200 members and received over 34,100 neighbour confirmations.

• Financial inclusion: The company provides institutions with residential data and a Stability Indicator scored from 0 to 100, which may assist with assessing risk.

• Business model: DigiDeeds says financial institutions have tested and paid for its data.

• Future plans: The company aims to connect verified households with services such as solar power, connectivity, security, sanitation and home sales and rentals.

Key point: A DigiDeed does not guarantee approval for credit or other financial services. Its value depends on how institutions use and accept the information.