In the landscape of South Africa, where gender-based violence (GBV) continues to paint a grim reality, innovative solutions that prioritize women’s safety are not just essential, they are life-saving. As we grapple with the GBV epidemic, the need for safe spaces extends beyond homes and workplaces and into the very routes women traverse every day. This is where the brilliant and timely innovation of Maambele Khosa, founder of SheCab, fits in seamlessly.
Khosa has chosen to respond to the GBV crisis in a unique and practical way, addressing an often-overlooked aspect – safe transportation for women. Her innovative service, SheCab, emerges as a beacon of safety and assurance, serving as a safe haven on wheels that caters exclusively to women.
The Beginnings of SheCab
SheCab is unique in the taxi industry because it exclusively serves women by matching them with licensed female drivers. Khosa came up with this idea to address the urgent need for women-friendly modes of transportation in South Africa. This has resulted in an atmosphere where women can move freely, secure in the knowledge that their safety is a key priority.
“Safety, reliability, and empowerment for women – this is what I am passionate about,” says Khosa, whose commitment to solving the special transportation problems women confront is at the center of SheCab.
Introducing Maambele Khosa, the Driving Force Behind SheCab
Khosa is used to juggling a number of tasks at once. She is the force behind SheCab and a student at the University of Stellenbosch, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in science and technology. Khosa has the education and experience to lead SheCab to success; she holds a BSc in geoinformatics and information systems management and a postgraduate diploma in marketing from the same institution.
Khosa is committed to keeping in touch with her staff and their clients despite her hectic schedule. On the weekends and early mornings, she can be seen driving customers, giving her first-hand experience with the difficulties and rewards of her work.
A Mobile Sanctuary
SheCab, led by Khosa, is a ride-hailing, shuttle, and corporate transportation service that places an emphasis on safety and security. The company’s operations, employee recruitment, and new product creation are all geared toward this goal. What is the point? To give its customers a sense of security, safety, and care at all times.
With an Eye on the Future
Khosa emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation as drivers of economic growth and job creation when asked about her vision for South Africa in five years. She is convinced that political and business leaders should put money into these fields.
In 2018, Khosa obtained a Global Entrepreneur certificate from Northwestern University in Chicago, and in 2019, she was recognized as a Global Students Leader by Pace University in Texas.
Motivated by Real Life Events
Khosa finds inspiration in her past experiences, which she uses to keep her going. She wanted a Blackberry when she was 14, but her mother made her sell a gravestone from the family company to pay for it. This experience not only reinforced the difficulty of owning a business, but also taught her critical lessons about trust, patience, and salesmanship.
Khosa looks back at her younger self and tells her to take risks, encouraging other aspiring business owners to do the same. Don’t be frightened to try something new. Challenge yourself to develop intellectually.
A Hope for a Safe and Sustainable Future
Khosa is doing more than simply disrupting the taxi industry with SheCab; she is also taking on entrenched social mores. She wants SheCab to be more than just a profitable company; she wants it to be a part of a future in which women’s business ownership, innovation, education, and skill development play a central role in fostering an economically robust and dynamic society.
Khosa wants SheCab to one day become an intelligent and eco-friendly transportation service powered by AI. Khosa’s SheCab is a guiding light for more secure transportation. For women, a motivating illustration of female entrepreneurship and proof of what’s possible when drive, meaning, and creativity come together.
Maambele Khosa’s efforts with SheCab are an example of how one individual can make a big difference when they’re motivated and creative. It’s a wonderful example of women’s strength and leadership, and it will help to make the world a better and safer place.
Khosa’s efforts are about more than getting people where they need to go; they’re also about making them feel safe and energizing them to make positive changes in South African society. Khosa makes sure that no South African lady has to worry about her own personal safety when using SheCab. Every step she takes brings us closer to a better and safer tomorrow.
About the Author:
Lebohang Mokoena is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience in business reporting. She specializes in innovation and technology in South Africa and beyond. Lebohang holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and has previously worked for top-tier publications before joining Africa Nova.