Rethinking the taxi business: A UWC student's innovative tech solution

Lesedi Majoe, a 20-year-old BCom Financial Accounting student at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), developed an innovative tech solution called DriveCred to address accounting discrepancies in the taxi industry. Growing up in a family involved in the minibus taxi sector, Majoe witnessed challenges in monitoring daily cash flows.

Without an independent system to track passengers, taxi owners often lost revenue due to underreported fares, which could amount to R8,000 to R14,000 per vehicle monthly. To tackle this issue without disrupting standard industry practices, Majoe created DriveCred, equipped with AI-powered passenger-counting cameras using computer vision technology to automatically track passengers on and off taxis.

The system generates a transparent, verified financial record that owners can use to reconcile against driver cash submissions, introducing accountability into an industry traditionally reliant on cash. This digital financial trail can help taxi owners secure formal financial solutions like credit and business loans. Majoe's venture won significant recognition, including first place at the Enactus UWC Intra-Varsity competition and a spot in the national Hult Prize UWC finals.

He was also named among MTN’s Top 30 Hustle Hub 2025 and awarded at Startup Africa 2026. These achievements have not only solidified his position within the startup ecosystem but also allowed him to apply his academic knowledge of financial systems to the minibus taxi sector, bridging the gap between his educational background and the challenges faced by his family's business.