SAFE TRADING: Maties students launching free marketplace website to stop campus scams
Stellenbosch University students aim to launch a campus-safe online marketplace built strictly for the Stellenbosch community, a reminder of just how many students navigate higher education with the purpose of empowering themselves.
Stellenbosch University students Albert Kotze and Jonathan Fleming are set to launch a free online marketplace called CampEX, aimed at putting a stop to scams and financial strain experienced by students on campus. The idea was born from a desire to create a safer trading environment for students, who often resort to buying and selling goods through chaotic WhatsApp and Facebook groups.
Kotze and Fleming plan to ensure CampEX is exclusively for Stellenbosch community members by requiring students to use their @sun.ac.za email addresses to register, thereby vetting all users. The platform will also facilitate meet-ups with pre-verified designated trading zones, emphasizing physical safety. CampEX will be funded through targeted advertising from local businesses, with no cost to students.
Early testing has yielded positive feedback, and the launch is expected in the coming weeks. The students aim to expand the model to other universities across South Africa, addressing the financial challenges faced by millions of tertiary students.
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