Manage Wework

How to cancel your WeWork membership in south africa in 2025

What is WeWork

WeWork operates flexible coworking spaces across South Africa, offering everything from hot desks to private offices and on-demand bookings. Your membership unlocks access to professionally designed workspaces, meeting room credits, printing allowances and mail handling - depending on which plan you choose. Whether you work solo or run a growing team, WeWork adapts to your needs.

Membership types and what you get

WeWork South Africa offers five main membership options. Hot Desk gives you a flexible seat in shared common areas with basic amenities. Dedicated Desk reserves a permanent workspace just for you. Private Offices suit teams needing closed, secure spaces. All Access memberships combine multiple location access across the network. On Demand app bookings let you reserve workspace or meeting rooms by the hour or day.

Each plan includes workspace access, WiFi, professional reception services and access to the member community. Higher-tier memberships add meeting room credits, printing allowances and priority booking. You manage your account and bookings via the WeWork App or by contacting their support team directly.

Why members cancel

Members typically cancel WeWork for one of three reasons: their work situation changes (remote work, new office lease, or business closure), they find the cost no longer fits their budget, or they relocate outside WeWork's service areas. Understanding why you want to cancel helps you time your notice correctly and avoid unnecessary charges.

Your consumer rights under south african law

South Africa's Consumer Protection Act protects you even after you sign a WeWork contract. You have specific rights that WeWork must honour, and knowing them puts you in a stronger position when you cancel.

Cooling-off period and right of withdrawal

You have the right to withdraw from a fixed-term distance contract within five business days of conclusion, with no penalty. This cooling-off period applies if your WeWork All Access membership is a distance contract (one you signed remotely, online or by phone). If you cancel within this window, you are entitled to a refund of all fees paid, minus any services actually rendered during that period.

Pro tip: Count business days only (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). If you signed your contract on a Friday, your cooling-off period expires at the end of Wednesday of the following week. Keep proof of when you concluded the contract - your email confirmation or receipt timestamp - to support any cooling-off claim.

After the cooling-off period

Once the five-business-day cooling-off period closes, your contract terms apply. WeWork publishes a no-refund policy for fees paid after this period ends. However, you still have the right to cancel at any time - you simply cannot demand a refund of past fees unless you have grounds under consumer law (e.g. breach of contract, misrepresentation, or unsafe conditions).

If WeWork fails to deliver promised services or breaches the contract, you may have grounds to claim damages or demand a refund. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) can support your claim if WeWork refuses to cooperate.

How to cancel your WeWork membership

WeWork requires you to follow specific cancellation steps depending on your membership type. There is no online self-serve cancellation button, so you must submit your request manually. Stopee advises following these steps precisely to avoid disputes over cancellation timing.

Cancelling your all access or membership plan

All Access and other fixed membership cancellations follow the same five-business-day notice rule. You must submit your cancellation request at least five business days before the last day of a calendar month. This means if you want to cancel effective 31 January 2025, you must submit your request by 24 January 2025 (counting five business days back: 24, 23, 22, 21, 20).

1. Log into the WeWork App and navigate to your membership settings
   • If you cannot access the app, skip to step 3 below
2. Look for a "Manage Membership" or "Billing" section and select "Request Cancellation"
   • Enter your preferred cancellation date (the last day of the current month)
   • Take a screenshot of the submission confirmation
3. If the app does not offer cancellation, open a support request at WeWork's official website or contact their support team directly
   • Email or phone support (check your most recent invoice for contact details)
   • State clearly: "I request cancellation of my [membership type] effective [last day of month]"
4. Wait for a confirmation email from WeWork
   • This email confirms your request has been logged and your effective cancellation date
   • Save this email and any reference number provided
5. Check your account 2-3 days before the effective date to confirm the cancellation is scheduled
   • If no cancellation appears, contact support again with your reference number
6. After the effective date, verify your access has been revoked
   • Try logging into the app - you should no longer see workspace booking options
   • Request written confirmation from support if needed

Cancelling WeWork on demand bookings

On Demand bookings are one-off or recurring hourly/daily bookings made through the WeWork app. These follow different refund rules based on when you cancel.

1. Open the WeWork App and go to "My Bookings" or "Reservations"
2. Select the booking you want to cancel
   • For advance bookings (24+ hours away), select "Cancel Booking"
   • For same-day bookings (less than 24 hours away), select "Cancel" immediately if you want a refund
3. Confirm the cancellation
   • Advance cancellations (24+ hours before): automatic refund to your original payment method, no questions asked
   • Same-day cancellations (within 5 minutes of booking): automatic refund applied
   • Same-day cancellations (after 5 minutes): contact WeWork support; refunds are discretionary and not guaranteed
4. Check your payment account for the refund
   • Refunds typically appear within 3-5 business days
   • If a refund does not arrive, contact your bank or payment provider with your cancellation confirmation

Timeline and important deadlines

Timing is everything when you cancel WeWork. One missed deadline can cost you a full month's additional fees. Stopee urges you to mark these dates in your calendar immediately.

The five-business-day rule explained

WeWork's cancellation policy ties your notice to calendar months, not billing dates. If you are billed on the 15th of each month but want to cancel, you still follow the calendar-month rule: submit your request at least five business days before the 31st (or 30th, 28th, depending on the month).

Warning: A "business day" excludes weekends and South African public holidays (New Year's Day, Human Rights Day, Good Friday, Family Day, Freedom Day, Workers' Day, Youth Day, National Women's Day, Heritage Day, Day of Reconciliation, Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill). If your five-business-day deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, you must submit by the last business day before that date.

Month-end vs. billing date

Your cancellation effective date is always the last day of a calendar month, regardless of when your billing cycle runs. If your membership renews on the 20th but you want to cancel, you cannot request an effective date of the 20th - you must wait until the last day of that month. Submit your notice five business days before month-end.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation feels final, but you still have administrative tasks to handle to protect yourself and recover any outstanding credits or deposits.

Your access ends immediately

Once your cancellation becomes effective (at midnight on the last day of the month you specified), your access to all WeWork spaces stops immediately. You will no longer be able to enter buildings using your WeWork card or app access. Any meeting room credits, printing allowances or other benefits included in your membership become unusable.

If you have shared your access with team members or guests, inform them of the cancellation date well in advance. After that date, their access through your account will also stop.

Your data and records

WeWork retains your user data, billing records, and access logs in line with its privacy policy and South African data protection law. You have the right to request a copy of your records at any time. Contact WeWork support and request copies of your invoices, payment receipts and cancellation confirmation - keep these for seven years in case a dispute arises.

Take screenshots of your account dashboard showing the cancellation, and save all cancellation confirmation emails. These documents prove you cancelled on time if WeWork charges you again by mistake.

Refunds and what you can recover

Stopee knows refunds are the question on your mind. Your refund depends on when you cancel and whether you fall within South Africa's cooling-off period.

Refunds within the five-business-day cooling-off period

If you cancel within five business days of signing your contract, you qualify for a full refund of all fees paid, minus any workspace or services you actually used. WeWork cannot charge you a penalty or administration fee for exercising your cooling-off right.

To claim a cooling-off refund, submit your cancellation request in writing (email counts) within the five-business-day window and state: "I am exercising my right to withdraw from this contract under the Consumer Protection Act, section 16." Include your membership number, cancellation reason (optional) and your refund account details (bank name, branch code, account number, account holder name).

Pro tip: Send this email to WeWork support and request a read receipt or reply confirming receipt. If WeWork disputes your cooling-off claim later, this email proves you submitted your notice in time.

No refund after cooling-off ends

After the five-business-day cooling-off window closes, WeWork's no-refund policy takes effect. Fees you have already paid for membership are non-refundable, even if you cancel early. WeWork can hold you to this policy because it is permitted under consumer law - once you move past the cooling-off period, the contract terms bind you.

Exception: If you can prove WeWork breached the contract (failed to provide promised services, building closed unexpectedly, or safety issues), you may have grounds to claim damages or demand a refund. The National Consumer Commission can support you if WeWork refuses to negotiate.

On demand booking refunds

On Demand bookings refund differently. Cancel at least 24 hours before your booking and you receive an automatic full refund. Cancel within 5 minutes of booking the same day and you also receive a full refund. Cancel outside these windows and you must contact WeWork support - refunds are at their discretion and not guaranteed.

WeWork pricing in south africa

Understanding what you are paying helps you decide whether to cancel or upgrade. The table below shows representative monthly membership costs for WeWork locations in Johannesburg and Sandton (2025 pricing).

Prices vary by location, contract term and current promotions. Contact WeWork directly for exact quotes for your preferred location and membership length. Long-term contracts (6-12 months) may offer discounts compared to month-to-month memberships.

Common mistakes when cancelling WeWork

Cancelling feels straightforward, but one small error can cost you a full month's fees. We have seen members make these mistakes repeatedly, and they are all avoidable.

Missing the five-business-day deadline

The most common mistake is underestimating how quickly five business days passes. Many members contact WeWork on a Monday expecting to cancel by month-end, only to discover they have missed the deadline by a day or two. Count backwards from the last business day of the month and submit your cancellation request on that date or earlier.

Pro tip: Set a phone reminder one week before month-end to submit your cancellation. Do not wait until the last minute.

Confusing billing date with cancellation deadline

Your membership may renew on the 15th of each month, but your cancellation deadline is always tied to the last day of the calendar month (31st, 30th, 28th, 29th). You cannot cancel effective the 15th - you can only cancel effective month-end. If you try to cancel mid-month, WeWork will schedule your cancellation for the last day of that month and bill you for the full month.

Assuming online cancellation exists

WeWork does not offer a self-serve "Cancel Now" button on their website or app. You must either use the app's "Request Cancellation" feature or contact support directly. Sending an email to a general address or leaving a voicemail is not formal enough - open a support ticket or use the app to create a documented cancellation request. Stopee emphasizes this because verbal or email requests can easily be lost or disputed later.

Forgetting to save confirmation details

If you do not screenshot or save your cancellation confirmation, you have no proof you cancelled on time. WeWork's systems can glitch, emails get deleted, and support staff turn over. Keep your confirmation email, any reference number, and screenshots of your app submission. These protect you if WeWork claims you never submitted a cancellation request.

Not checking access revocation

After your cancellation date passes, log into the WeWork App and verify your access has been removed. If you can still book spaces a day after your effective cancellation date, contact support immediately - you may have been billed for an extra month by mistake. The sooner you catch this, the easier the refund process.

Checklist before you cancel

Use this checklist to confirm you are ready and that you have completed all necessary steps.

• Check your membership type (Hot Desk, Dedicated Desk, All Access, Private Office, or On Demand)
• Confirm today's date and count five business days forward to determine your deadline
• Set a reminder to submit your cancellation by that deadline
• Check your most recent invoice for WeWork's support contact details (email, phone, app link)
• Gather your membership number and any billing account details
• Plan what you will do with any shared access (team members, visiting guests)
• Screenshot your current account balance and any outstanding credits
• Submit your cancellation request using the WeWork App or via support email
• Save the confirmation email and any reference number provided
• Check the app 2-3 days before your effective date to confirm cancellation is scheduled
• Log in the day after your cancellation date to verify access is revoked
• Request written confirmation of cancellation if you feel unsure
• Save all documentation for at least seven years (invoices, cancellation emails, screenshots)

Escalation: what to do if WeWork refuses to cancel

If WeWork ignores your cancellation request or claims you did not submit one on time, you have leverage under South African consumer law. Stopee recommends following this escalation path.

Step 1: contact WeWork in writing

Send a formal email to WeWork support titled "Formal cancellation request and notice of contract termination." Include your membership number, the date you initially requested cancellation, your preferred cancellation date, and a clear statement: "I am formally requesting cancellation of my membership. Please confirm receipt of this request and provide a cancellation confirmation with your reference number within three business days."

Step 2: involve the national consumer commission

If WeWork does not respond within five business days, file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The NCC handles consumer disputes in South Africa and can pressure WeWork to honour your cancellation. Your complaint is free and can be filed online at ncc.org.za. Include copies of all emails, screenshots and cancellation requests.

Step 3: dispute the charge with your bank

If WeWork continues to bill you after you cancelled, contact your bank and dispute the charge. Provide your bank with your cancellation request email and confirmation. Your bank can reverse unauthorised charges and open an investigation into WeWork's practices. This often motivates WeWork to resolve the dispute quickly.

Why stopee helps members cancel successfully

Cancelling a membership should be simple, but companies rely on complexity and missed deadlines to keep charging you. Stopee exists to make cancellation transparent and empowering. We help thousands of South African consumers cancel memberships, subscriptions and contracts every year - from gym memberships to software platforms to coworking spaces like WeWork.

Our role is to give you the insider knowledge, the exact steps, and the consumer rights you need to cancel without argument. We do not work for WeWork or any service provider; we work for you. Every guide we publish, including this one on how to cancel WeWork, is built on real member experiences and consumer law.

If you found this guide helpful, share it with colleagues or friends who use WeWork. The more people who know the five-business-day rule and the cooling-off period, the fewer of them will overpay because they missed a deadline.

Contact WeWork support directly

For the most current contact details, visit WeWork's official South African website or check your membership invoice. Support channels typically include email, phone, and the WeWork App support request feature. When you contact them, have your membership number and recent invoice ready.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers like you cancel subscriptions and memberships on their terms, not the company's. Your cancellation is valid; your rights are real. Follow the steps in this guide, meet the five-business-day deadline, save your confirmation, and you will cancel WeWork without stress or surprise charges. You have this.