It is a Friday afternoon and you get a message — you need to collect medication from the pharmacy and send it to your mother in Thohoyandou. One problem: you are stuck in Louis Trichardt without transport. A courier could work, but it is costly — and they will not deliver before Monday.
Now, a solution may already exist — thanks to a locally developed app that links parcel senders with travellers heading in the same direction. Think of it as phoning a friend or family member to deliver something — except with a much bigger list of people you can phone.
The Kutuma app, launched by two young entrepreneurs from Vhembe, aims to bridge the transport gap while creating income opportunities. It connects those who want to send parcels with everyday drivers — and lets those drivers recover some of their travel costs or even turn a profit.
The app is the brainchild of Rendani Makhadi and Rendani Tshishonga. Both have roots in the Vhembe region but are now based in Gauteng. Makhadi is a chemical engineer and founder of Itechnnov8, a tech company launched in 2018 that provides smart-visibility solutions to the automotive and manufacturing sectors. Tshishonga is a finance expert and part-time business studies lecturer, known for his regular economic commentary on radio.
The business model draws on the Tshivenda proverb, "Muhulwane u rumiwa o ima" — loosely translated as "it's polite to request assistance from an elderly person who is already going in that direction." With the app, that help can come from anyone — not just the elderly.
Users register either as drivers (referred to as "transporters") or parcel senders, or even both. For example, if you regularly drive to Siloam, you could register as a driver. A sender needing to deliver a parcel posts the details, and drivers going that way can place bids.
"What makes the Kutuma app unique is that drivers can set their own delivery fees, and the sender chooses which bid to accept," Tshishonga explains.
Back to the original scenario: someone driving to Thohoyandou offers to deliver your mother's medicine for R50. You accept the bid, pay the fee into your Kutuma wallet, and wait for the pick-up. Once the item is delivered, the money is released to the driver.
The app is inclusive — no special qualifications or vehicle requirements are needed. "Even those who use public transport can register and take part," says Tshishonga.
Senders can list parcel dimensions, and drivers can ask follow-up questions (e.g. about weight) before accepting a delivery. Hazardous materials and perishable goods, however, are not permitted.
Tshishonga says user safety is a top priority. "Carriers go through identity verification and screening before being allowed to accept delivery requests," he says.
And what about financial safety? "We use a secure payment gateway to protect users' information and ensure a smooth transaction."
Creating an account is free. Senders only pay the agreed delivery fee and the carriers are charged a small commission. The business operates transparently, with each transaction carrying a 10% admin fee — which helps fund the platform.
"This innovation is about more than just convenience," says Tshishonga. "It's also about addressing unemployment. People can earn something on every trip."
Kutuma's design also supports greener transport solutions. Busy regional routes, such as the road between Louis Trichardt and Thohoyandou, are already packed with cars — many carrying just a driver and one passenger. The app taps into that existing traffic to move parcels without adding to the environmental burden.
The Kutuma app is available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Just search for: Kutuma – On the Go.