The University of the Free State (UFS) has launched the Good Money Habits App, a dedicated initiative designed to support informal sector and township businesses. The launch took place on 2 September 2025 at the Business School Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus, with representatives from the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) and the National Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), and other stakeholders in attendance. 

The Good Money Habits App 

Welcoming guests, Dr Molapo Qhobela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact at the UFS, emphasised the importance of addressing financial challenges in the informal economy. 

“There are many challenges which the informal sector faces, one of them being the issue of proper financial management, and the tools that are necessary to enable it. It is therefore for that good reason that the Good Money Habits App was developed,” he said. 

The app is part of a research project at the Centre for Development Support (CSD), exploring effective ways to support informal enterprises. Its development was a collaborative effort involving the Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures (ICDF) and the Video Lab in Blended Learning Innovation Support and Services (BLISS).

Prof Frederick Fourie, Project Leader and Producer of the Good Money Habits App, provided an overview of the platform and demonstrated its features. The app offers 15 short videos (3-5 minutes each) on practical, day-to-day financial management for township and micro-enterprises. The content is informed by statistical research and direct engagement with informal business owners. 

The videos guide entrepreneurs on essential topics such as separating personal and business finances, managing cash inflows and outflows, and correctly calculating profit. After each video, users answer interactive questions to reflect on their habits. 

Prof Fourie also highlighted that the app is free to use and available for download on the Google Play Store, though it is currently limited to Android users. 

Feedback from industry experts

Industry experts at the launch commended the app’s practicality and accessibility. 

Prof Geci Karuri-Sebina of the University of the Witwatersrand praised the decision to film many of the videos on-site in townships. “This is really a great example of using simple technologies to address practical issues in the societies around us,” she noted. 

Prof Brownhilder Neneh, Vice-Dean: Research, Engagement and Internationalisation in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the UFS, also reflected on her positive experience using the app. 

“When you look at the app along with the videos, you see that they are very short, focused and simplify complex financial and accounting management topics, making it easier for a wide audience to understand and apply,” said Neneh.