Township Business Models

Shining light on how rural and township businesses work.

Educate. Inspire. Innovate.

[Owen Lekala @owen_lekala]

I just built what could be South Africa's first AI-powered ridesharing app.

I'm just a guy dedicated to building something we can proudly call our own, a platform designed for South Africans, by South Africans.

Try my app on android @hikeappsa retweet and share

[#JoinUsForTEA @JoinUsForTEA]

Success in business isn’t only about profit, it’s about progress, impact & growth. Every loyal customer, improved product & lesson learned counts. In the township economy, success means building something that lasts & uplifts others.

#JoinUsForTEA
#TownshipEntrepreneur

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@Father_Of_Geeks @koko_matshela This takes the country forward

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@khabubu_phathu No actually, some of us are learning.

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@Brad_min @zaakummi @khabubu_phathu @github It's interesting a coder you use so much.

Are you relying on prompts and doing kess 'manual' coding? Are you running more coding sessions/building multiple

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@khabubu_phathu Do you mind sharing a screenshot of the usage since 01 June?

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@scaling01 This is also my sense. Sonnet will keep doing the runaround until you try codex. Codex is great at planning and UI. Sonnet at initial execution once you have the .md. Thereafter you rely on interchanging them to solve a problem.

Your experience with agent.md?

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@zinyando @TheGeorgePu @IzwiAI Been trying to figure out some use cases here.

What can you wrap around this to make it relevant?

An example, if I had data of a particular language and wanted to have ml training to localise output, then build a wrapper...what are some of the use cases.

[A F I K A @AfikaSoyamba]

I built a database of 1,248 South African businesses funded by the IDC and NEF.
856 from the IDC. 392 from the NEF. Every company name. Every amount. Every province.
The data tells a story the public needs to see.
NEF UPDATED: https://t.co/nb2oR3LdAC
IDC: https://t.co/B7nHWtxKAq

E&O expected.

[MduCeramicist @MduduziMats]

I will tell you my story about them and NEF! I wouldn't wish for that experience and treatment for any up and coming entrepreneurs!

[Lusibalukhulu 🖍 @feziledhlamini_]

PLEASE REPOST:
I built South Africa's first black-owned electric vehicle company.
I have deployed 70+ EVs with Blue Chip Companies, Local SMEs and exported to the UAE.
I have invested R9.5 million of my own money over 10 years.
The IDC has given me R0.
They gave a white-owned competitor R69.9 million.

Thread. 🧵
@businessXplain @ParliamentofRSA @sedfa_dsbd @DSBD_SA @the_dtic @IDCSouthAfrica @PublicProtector @NAFCOCKZN

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@feziledhlamini_ Is the the claw setup on your own server using mobile?

[Lusibalukhulu 🖍 @feziledhlamini_]

So let me get this straight:
1. On 22 January, Phiwe Marumo apologises for "inconsistencies."
2. On 8 March, David Jarvis says the problem is that I did not send information.
These two statements cannot both be true.
Either the @IDCSouthAfrica treated me inconsistently (Marumo's version) or I failed to provide information (Jarvis's version).
The email trail supports Marumo.

I hold a 6,500 square metre factory allocation at the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone.
TASEZ needs proof of IDC funding to finalise my lease. The IDC says come back with a facility.
A state-built factory, designed for black manufacturers, sits empty while a qualifying black-owned tenant is being turned away. The first of its kind for a Black Youth-Owned Automotive Manufacturer.

On 9 March 2026, I filed a formal petition with the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, addressed to Chairperson Hon. Mzwandile Masina.
On 10 March 2026, I filed a supplementary complaint with the Public Protector.
On 10 March 2026, I submitted a 21-page evidence package to NAFCOC.
I have also sought legal counsel.
I am coming from every angle. The IDC will not be allowed to bury this quietly.

Parliament has already launched an inquiry into claims of IDC bias against black businesses. This is not just my story. This is a pattern.
Every black entrepreneur who has been told "come back with 1,000 sales" while watching someone else get R69.9 million knows exactly what I am talking about.

I am not asking for sympathy. I am not asking for charity.
I have 70+ vehicles deployed. Blue-chip clients. CSIR validation. AIDC endorsement. A TASEZ factory allocation. R9.5 million of my own money invested. 10 years of my life.
I am asking one question: Why has the IDC given R0 to a black-owned EV manufacturer with a proven track record, while giving R69.9 million to a white-owned competitor in the same sector?
If you cannot answer that question, then you understand the problem.

To every black industrialist who has been through this: You are not alone. The system is not broken. It is working exactly as designed. But we can change that.

To the IDC: I have given you 8 years of good faith. I have nothing left to lose. The evidence is filed. The public can judge.

To the media: My inbox is open.

To South Africa: Repost this if you believe development finance should serve the people it was created for.

@Powerfm987 @dailymaverick @News24 @Newzroom405 @IOL @ewnreporter @eNCA @Radio2000_ZA @Radio702

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@sliceoflife1311 @marcrandolph This is 100% correct.

The real contestation is about ideas.

AI affords one to start off with ideas which might be unique to the individual, but low calorie to the world.

This is where learning is embedded.

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@krustelkram 8, ccy6 xyi7uyy,hy7y gu,,,cgyyh why

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

@aakashgupta P. Paaaccbacb.

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

Spaza shop fees: The real companies that can put an immediate stop to these prohibited surcharges are Flash (Part of PEP), Shop2Shop and Kazang.

See my article on why they are doing nothing.

https://t.co/hOrmp2B57v

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

https://t.co/5iEM7J4hoS

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

https://t.co/5iEM7J4hoS

[Department of Small Business Development @DSBD_SA]

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ) FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER TO CONDUCT A RAPID AND COMPREHENSIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY ON RED TAPE REDUCTION WITH A FOCUS ON MUNICIPAL BUSINESS LICENSING PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS.

To appoint a appoint a suitably qualified and experienced service provider to undertake a rapid and comprehensive comparative study on red tape reduction, with a specific focus on municipal business licensing processes and systems across South Africa within 2 months.

To access full documentation, click here 👉🏽: https://t.co/ztYW1n1jy2

Advertising date: 06 February 2026

Closing date: 20 February 2026 at 11:00

Enquiries can be directed to [email protected]

[Township Business Models @TownshipBusMod]

Start where you are 🕯️

A pavement.
A crate.
Gas and food people want.

No fancy setup.
Just high pedestrian traffic
and showing up every day.

#StartWhereYouAreMondays