Yaeesh Collins|Published
Mi-Change has officially expanded its digital voucher programme to Johannesburg, giving residents a structured way to support people experiencing housing inequality.
How the digital vouchers work
The Mi-Change programme allows donors to scan a SnapScan QR code displayed on a registered participant’s lanyard.
A R15 voucher can be redeemed at participating support centres for everyday necessities such as a hot meal, a shower, clean clothing or a safe place to sleep.
Mi-Change says the system allows donors to support specific needs while enabling participating organisations to allocate, redeem, and track vouchers.
A personal route back to stability
For Dylon Jordaan, the digital vouchers represent a lifeline. Jordaan, who was once homeless, now works for Mi-Change.
He recalls spending his days washing taxis for small amounts of money to survive. One cold, rainy day, when there were no taxis to wash, a friend gave him a Mi-Change voucher.
“It opened a door to dignity and to a community of people who believed I could change at a time when I couldn’t see that in myself,” Jordaan says.
“Joburg needs that same door for so many more people. This isn’t about a handout. It is about giving someone a reason to take the next step.”
Nyeleti Magadze, social development lead at Jozi My Jozi, which is partnering with the programme in Johannesburg’s inner city, says the initiative encourages residents to move from informal cash donations to more structured support.
“While handing R50 to someone on the street comes from a place of kindness, donors often have no idea how that money is ultimately used,” she says.
“If they have a lanyard with this digital voucher programme, scan the lanyard and donate towards what they need, rather than saying, ‘Here is money; figure out what you want to do with it.’”
The digital voucher programme is available through the Mi-Change platform. It allows donors to fund specific needs and enables participating organisations to allocate, redeem, and track vouchers.
Magadze says the system also gives participants more choice over how they access support.
“Individuals can decide how they enter the programme, what services they access and how they restore their dignity through the support network,” she says.
Johannesburg expansion
Jonathan Hopkins, chief strategy officer at U-Turn Homeless Ministries, notes that the initiative highlights Johannesburg’s persistent homelessness crisis while giving residents a practical way to help to follow its local launch.
"The vouchers use SnapScan, a familiar platform, which removes any learning curve or hesitation," Hopkins says. "It allows people to give directly, ensuring every donation connects an individual to support and an opportunity for change."
André Ross, CEO of Citi South Africa, states that the initiative offers a straightforward way to give back through a fully accountable ecosystem.
"We often tend to look outside of South Africa for solutions, but this is a great reminder that we can solve our own problems locally, driven by people who understand the pulse and requirements of our community," Ross said.
"We are excited because Mi-Change makes it very simple for someone to exercise that human instinct of giving while introducing technology, measurability, and scalability."
Mi-Change national manager Carmen Dickenson is currently training staff and participants in Johannesburg and Pretoria as the programme expands.
Johannesburg is the second city to adopt the system after its initial launch in Cape Town in July 2026.
The Mi-change Digital Voucher works by a donor using SnapScan to scan the QR code on a person's lanyard to purchase a voucher for R15.
Each R15 voucher equates to one essential service, providing the recipient with access to a meal, shower, clothes, or a safe place to sleep. These vouchers are redeemable at all MES and U-turn service centres and shelters.
IOL