MBABANE – A 30-year-old local entrepreneur has developed a mobile application designed to connect drivers and passengers in Eswatini’s growing transport sector.
The app, called Ridesly, was created by Sakhile Mamba, who said he was inspired by His Majesty King Mswati III’s call for emaSwati to harness technology for solutions. The application is now available for Android users on the Google Play Store.
Mamba explained that the platform allows drivers to post their travel routes, including departure point, destination, time, date, number of seats, and the cost per seat. Passengers can then browse available options, book a seat, and pay through MTN Mobile Money.
“The system holds the money until the driver picks up the passenger. Once the driver scans the QR code from the passenger’s phone, the money is transferred to the driver’s account,” Mamba said.
According to him, the app was first developed before the COVID-19 pandemic but was put on hold during lockdown restrictions. It has now been reintroduced with features such as real-time booking updates, cancellation refunds, and route-sharing.
One feature allows passengers to post their own trip details so that drivers heading in the same direction can connect with them. To ensure accountability, all users must register with their cellphone number and upload a copy of their national ID card.
Safety has also been built into the system. Passengers can share their trip details with family or friends, who are then able to track their journey. If a driver fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the scheduled pick-up, passengers can cancel and get a refund directly to their mobile money account.
The app is restricted to people aged 18 and above. It also comes with a referral programme where users earn two per cent from trips booked by people they invite to join.
Mamba explained the revenue model, noting that for a trip costing E25, the driver earns E22.50 while Ridesly takes E2.50. If both the passenger and driver were referred by other users, each referrer earns two per cent, leaving the app with six per cent of the fare.
While the platform currently operates with MTN Mobile Money, Mamba confirmed he is working to integrate Eswatini Mobile into the system.
The Ridesly App can be downloaded from the Google Play Store
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