Real local neighbours
Members confirm their email and home suburb so you know you are chatting with people who genuinely belong to your community.
Community trust and safety
A welcoming neighbourhood space built on mutual respect.
The best communities are places where people recognise one another, lend a hand and feel comfortable taking part. Stoep combines real local membership with sensible privacy so your suburb can thrive online.
Friendly without oversharing
You can be an active part of your suburb without putting your house number or personal phone number on display.
Constructive conversations
Clear neighbourhood guidelines help keep discussions helpful, respectful and welcoming for everyone on the street.
Dedicated local stewardship
Each suburb is looked after by community moderators and administrators who understand the local area.
Straightforward reporting
If something feels out of place, you can flag it quickly and know that a real person will review it fairly.
Calm, verified notices
Important community updates are clearly labelled so useful information stands out without causing unnecessary alarm.
Access in steps
Verification tiers
Sign-up asks for your home address first. Stoep then unlocks neighbourhood tools in two steps so only local residents see local conversations.
Tier 1
After you confirm your home address inside an open neighbourhood, you can browse the noticeboard, directory and places. Posting and messaging stay locked until Tier 2.
Tier 2
Full neighbour access after vouches or proof of address confirm you belong there. Post, reply, message and take part.
How we confirm neighbours
The verification flow
- Confirm your home. Share a private address so Stoep can match you to the correct suburb boundary.
- Browse as Tier 1. Once your area is open, read the board while posting stays locked.
- Finish with trust. Neighbours vouch for you, or you upload proof of address. Reviewers delete the document after a decision, after vouches succeed, or automatically after 30 days.
When something feels wrong
Reporting and blocking
Use Report on a post, profile or conversation so a community moderator can review it. You can also block or mute a neighbour so their content stays out of your feed. Blocking is personal; reporting asks local stewards to take action.
Messages are end-to-end encrypted and stay between participants. Stoep cannot read them. If you report a chat, your device shares the conversation with moderators so they can review it. Forget your messaging PIN and you can set a new one, but older messages will not be readable again.
In an emergency
Call the national numbers first
Police
10111
Dial for police emergencies anywhere in South Africa.
Mobile emergency
112
Dial from a mobile for life-threatening medical or fire emergencies.
Stoep emergency contacts in the portal are neighbourhood extras. Always call 10111 or 112 when you or someone nearby is in immediate danger.
Clear community roles
Neighbours, local organisers and businesses in harmony.
Many people wear more than one hat in their suburb: you might be a resident on your street, help run a neighbourhood watch or gardening club, or own a local bakery. Stoep lets you switch clearly between your personal neighbour view and any community role you hold, so everyone always knows who they are speaking with.
Clear roles keep local recommendations honest and community moderation fair.
Join a calmer, more helpful local community.
Connect with neighbours in your suburb for everyday updates, recommendations and local events.
Find my community