Uber who? Kasi catering to the townships
When South Africa’s COVID-19 ‘state of disaster’ lockdown regulations were lowered to level three, many people rejoiced as this meant the return of some of our favourite creature comforts, as well as a welcome excuse not to cook a meal ourselves. However, on a more serious note and on a much greater scale, it also allowed for certain sectors of the economy to open up under the strictest of conditions and regulations and resume limited forms of trading. While many in the restaurant sector found operating under these conditions impossible or not worth the overheads, many rose to the challenge and got creative in terms of their takeaway menus, delivery options as well as other food products that could be sold to generate some form of revenue before they were able to open up and trade in earnest. This in turn allowed companies such as the likes of Mr D (MR Delivery), Uber Eats and Bolt Food to monopolise and dominate the takeaway food market – for those who could afford the increased meal costs and delivery fees attached of course.
However while the demand for takeaway meals and food deliveries increased inordinately countrywide, it also highlighted a substantial gap in the market. Mainstream Apps such as Uber Eats and Mr Delivery, only cater to certain areas – mainly major cities and suburbs, therefore leaving some of South Africa’s most densely populated township areas unattended. The reasoning behind this, according to one of the mainstream apps was that there wasn’t “enough demand for the service” and they would only consider expanding into the townships when this changes. This glaring gap in the market and the supply chain has not gone unnoticed thankfully, and has inspired and encouraged a number of enterprising entrepreneurs and Apps that cater specifically to these markets.
One such app is KasiMenu, which is a food delivery service App that was established in 2018 by ‘foodpreneur’ Reneilwe Aphane who picked up on the definitive demand for food delivery and takeaway delivery services within the townships and now caters to over 2000 active customers daily in Pretoria’s largest township – Soshanguve as well as Soweto, Ga-Rankuwa and Mabopane. Aphane is not alone in his vision for food delivery specific services in townships. Order Kasi and White Fox are two other food delivery services that have tapped into the township market successfully, inspired by both the gap in the market and their respective love of food. “There is a lot of money in the township, it’s just a matter of finding ways to develop the township economy”, says Moguni, COO of White Fox. They key, is to “get in contact with people who already know the area you’re working in,” says Aphane. “The people who we are working with know their way around the neighbourhood,” he said.