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South African Singelton's get three minutes to find the perfect date with the launch of SpeedDater SA

6/2/2004

South African Singelton's get three minutes to find the perfect date with the launch of SpeedDater SA

The latest dating game, already billed as the cure for chronic singledom, hits Cape Town and Johannesburg with the launch of SpeedDater SA in South Africa, hosting their first events in Cape Town on the 5th January and Johannesburg on the 6th January 2004

Speed dating has led to a booming multi-million pound dating industry in the UK, by matching up lonely singletons in three minutes. The concept was dreamed up two years ago by two American entrepreneurs who saw a gap in the lucrative singles market - The novel scheme was an instant success and has even featured in an episode of the hit US comedy Sex and the City.

Says Tiffany Byers, one of the Owners of SpeedDater SA, "Speed dating is not a fad, it's proved hugely successful in America and London and we know that it will really take off across South Africa.

The premise is so simple it's not hard to see why speed dating works. Thirty to fifty men and women are brought together at an upmarket venue and given a "heart rate" card, pen and badge. The men are seated opposite the women and then the dating starts. After three minutes a bell rings and all the men move round one place and begin chatting to the next woman. Working on a rotational basis, each participant has three minutes to impress before getting moved on to the next person. After the event the participants log on to the website and tick those people they would like to see again and if there are matches, then the system automatically sends the matched pair each other s email addresses so that they may start corresponding.

This is perfect for professionals who simply don't have enough time to meet people, let alone woo them. It's simple - sign up on the website speeddater.co.za which is fully automated with a secure credit card payment gateway through WorldPay (a world leader in electronic payments), come to a bar and meet 20 or so other go-getters who can just about fit in a quick flirt after work before the gym. According to Byers, "Internet dating is already massive, but the problem is that you're not meeting people face to face. Once on a blind date, if you don't like the person you're with, you can't escape easily. That's the beauty of speed dating. You know what you're getting. It only takes 3 minutes to know if you would want to see that person again...

Like the Big Brother concept, it has that compulsive buzz quality: insatiable curiosity. And, after starting in October, Prockter says they haven't been able to meet demand. To give you the stats: there are three age groups 24-36, 29-41, 34-46; 90% of people get matches and 40-50% of those go on to date one of their matches in the following week.

Speed dating is fast, fun and rejection-free. Where else are you guaranteed to meet at least 20 single members of the opposite sex in one night? The fast and furious pace breaks down barriers, and allows you to meet other people in a relaxed, no pressure environment.