South Africa’s township economy moves over R10 billion worth of goods every year. It’s one of the most vibrant, misunderstood, and under-supported parts of our country’s entrepreneurship landscape. And at the heart of it all sits the spaza shop — a business that has kept families going, communities fed, and local economies alive for generations.
But there’s a problem:
Most of these businesses buy stock at higher prices than big retailers, struggle to access credit, and don’t have the data they need to grow. The result? Hard-working entrepreneurs who know their customers better than anyone are held back by systems never designed for them.
That’s where Vuleka comes in.
A Platform Built With Purpose at the Centre
On this week’s episode of the Mashstartup Podcast, host Mashudu Modau sits down with Brian Makwaiba, founder of Vuleka — a multi-award-winning ecommerce and fintech platform built for the informal market.
Brian’s story is one rooted in purpose. Growing up in Khayelitsha and working closely with township businesses, he saw a simple truth:
Spaza shop owners don’t lack ambition or business knowledge — they lack access.
Vuleka was built to change that.
What Vuleka Actually Does
The platform gives township entrepreneurs the tools and support they’ve been denied for too long:
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Bulk buying at fair prices
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Real-time market data
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Credit profiles for unbanked traders
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A hybrid online-offline ordering system run by local youth agents
It’s not an app thrown into the township economy from the outside. It’s a system built with community, trust and practical insight — the things that actually make businesses work on the ground.
The Power of Agility in Township Businesses
One of the most powerful insights from the conversation is this:
Township entrepreneurs understand their customers better than anyone.
They know what sells, when it sells, and how to adapt. They are agile by necessity — long before “agile” became a business buzzword.
What they don’t have is the infrastructure and support to turn that agility into sustainable growth.
That’s the gap Vuleka is filling.
Designing Fintech for Real People
Brian and his team intentionally designed Vuleka to work for business owners who may not be tech-savvy. Through local youth marketers, offline ordering options, and accessible pricing, the platform meets spaza shop owners where they are — not where Silicon Valley thinks they should be.
This is purpose-driven innovation:
technology that bends to the realities of the people it aims to serve.
Why the Township Economy Is One of SA’s Biggest Opportunities
If spaza shops can buy together, grow together, and access credit together — the impact on township economies becomes explosive. Jobs, better margins, stronger communities, and real economic power.
Brian believes, and Mashstartup echoes this belief, that the township economy isn’t a “side hustle economy.” It’s a sleeping giant.
And platforms like Vuleka are waking it up.
Listen to the Full Conversation
If you’re building for South Africa, working in fintech, or simply passionate about community-driven business — this conversation will stay with you.