Portia Keleketu redefines SA transport industry with Shesha Ride, a local app designed to tackle safety and accessibility issues.
Portia Keleketu, a South African tech entrepreneur, has become one of the voices aiming to modernise the sector through locally developed digital solutions. Her career spans over ten years in IT and project management, beginning in 2008 as a helpdesk technician at Bytes Technologies. She later became a project manager and held roles such as information systems analyst at Anglo Platinum and events manager.
In 2018, Keleketu founded NetMzansi, a company focused on digitising operations within the minibus taxi industry. The initiative aimed to address longstanding issues in public transport, particularly safety, informality, and poor regulation. Her work laid the foundation for a broader effort to reimagine mobility in South Africa’s urban centres.
Earlier in 2024, Keleketu launched Shesha Ride, a locally developed e-hailing platform
tailored to South African commuters and drivers. The app positions itself as an alternative to international ride-hailing services, offering a range of features for its users.
According to the company, Shesha includes an e-wallet feature that eliminates the need for cash transactions, aiming to reduce theft risks and enhance driver safety. The platform also incorporates verification methods such as one-time passwords (OTP), facial recognition, and biometric checks linked to the Department of Home Affairs database. Other functions include inputting passenger and luggage details before rides, and an emergency trip option for repeat users.
Within months of launching, Shesha reported registering 16,000 drivers on its platform. Keleketu’s team has concentrated on working closely with taxi associations and drivers’ unions to build trust and safety within the sector. Shesha has reportedly signed memoranda of understanding with key transport organisations, including the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and the National Taxi Alliance. In June 2024, the company introduced a new safety measure—deploying regional safety ambassadors responsible for training, conducting spot checks, and resolving driver-passenger disputes.
In the same year, Shesha Ride received the Stuff Magazine South Africa App Award 2024 in the Travel category, marking early recognition of its potential in the mobility space.
While the e-hailing industry in South Africa remains highly competitive, with established players like Bolt and Uber commanding significant market share, Portia Keleketu, through Shesha, is striving to carve out a niche by prioritising local needs and fostering community-oriented solutions.
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