{
  "id": 879151,
  "title": "Rethinking the taxi business: A UWC student's innovative tech solution",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/rethinking-the-taxi-business-a-uwc-students-innovative-tech-solution",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T14:34:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/business/jobs/2026-08-14-rethinking-the-taxi-business-a-uwc-students-innovative-tech-solution/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "summary": "Lesedi Majoe, a 20-year-old BCom Financial Accounting student at the University of the Western Cape, is revolutionising the taxi industry with his innovative tech startup, DriveCred.",
  "key_points": [
    "Lesedi Majoe, 20, UWC student, created DriveCred to solve taxi industry accounting issues",
    "DriveCred uses AI-powered passenger-counting cameras for transparent financial records",
    "Majoe's innovation won Enactus UWC competition and placed in Hult Prize finals"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}