Discover SendMePls: The new South African app revolutionising shopping and delivery

The township economy in South Africa never fails to impress, showing great resilience and always innovating to serve the needs of their communities. 

Fueled by ambitions of tackling the high rates of youth unemployment in the country, 36-year-old Florence Maziko has stepped into the booming entrepreneurship industry with a clear goal in mind, to better service the needs of South African communities. 

Maziko, who is based in Somerset West, Western Cape, is the founder and director of SendMePls, a new on-demand delivery and personal shopping app.

Maziko said that despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's claim during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) that unemployment is declining, South Africa's current unemployment rate of 42.6% (Q3 2025) signals a crisis far from over.

More than just a delivery platform, SendMePls is a comprehensive solution designed for user convenience by offering a range of services centralised in one place.

Customers can book rides, send parcels, request multi-stop errands (up to three shops), send gifts, purchase essentials, appliances, and household items, and even set a budget and shop anywhere, with no restrictions to specific stores.

This means if a shopper sees a loaf of bread on special at one retailer, while milk is on special at another retailer and eggs are cheaper at a different store, they can opt to buy items from the three different retailers and have them delivered to them all together. 

Maziko said that the platform empowers individuals to earn by enabling bicycle riders, scooter drivers, and car drivers, which reduces the entry barrier to earning.

 "Our goal is to remove limitations. We operate in townships and suburbs alike. If it can legally be bought and delivered, we can assist," Maziko told Business Report.

Maziko explained how users wanting to make use of the app would go about it: 

• Request items from any store
• Set a budget
• Provide specific instructions
• Request multi-stop shopping (up to three stores)
• Book parcel delivery or rides

Once an order is placed:

1. A verified personal shopper (we call them runners) accepts the order.
2. The runner goes to the requested store(s).
3. The runner purchases the items on behalf of the customer using an allocated shopper payment solution.
4. The items are delivered directly to the customer.

Maziko added, "We do not operate with dedicated in-store shoppers. Our runners are mobile and store-agnostic, meaning customers are not limited to partner stores, they can send us to any shop, including local township stores, malls, Chinatown stores, or independent retailers." 

The young businessman added, "Customers fund their order upfront via the app.Our verified runners are issued with shopper-enabled payment solutions, which allow them to securely purchase the requested items on behalf of the customer. This ensures controlled spending, budget transparency, fraud prevention and real-time accountability. We are currently piloting enhanced digital payment solutions to streamline this even further as part of our expansion strategy."

Maziko said another inspiriation for starting the business was the gap he noticed between convenience services in suburbs versus townships.

"I realised that many people needed someone to run errands, someone to shop across multiple stores, someone to deliver parcels or gifts and someone to assist elderly family members," he said. 

This approach allows SendMePls to make a tangible impact on local communities, providing opportunities for individuals to earn and for businesses to reach more customers.

 "After recognising the gap between personalised convenience and community upliftment, we knew we had to bridge this gap while contributing to addressing South Africa’s unemployment crisis. We built a platform that goes beyond simple deliveries, creating a network of personal shoppers and runners who earn sustainable income while serving their communities," Maziko said. 

SendMePls’ real-time tracking enables users to monitor their deliveries at every stage.

It is equipped with a PIN-based delivery system that ensures a secure payment process.

the app also offers flexible delivery options such as standard, express, and scheduled, to suit users' needs.

Its adaptable model allows runners to choose their own vehicles, from bicycles to cars, and earn up to R8,000* per month.

SendMePls’s personal shoppers or runners assist users with their shopping from start to finish.

"They can cover multiple stores in one shopping centre or collect everything in a single trip. For users, this eliminates the time-consuming process of hopping between apps and paying multiple delivery fees. The runners are community members who understand local needs. They are the vital link between customers and their requirements, with a mission to save time and reduce hassle," the entrepreneur said. 

“We welcome young people, parents, students, and anyone eager to learn and serve their community while earning a living. Most importantly, we don’t require years of experience, just passion, reliability, and a positive attitude," Maziko said.

Currently in the proof-of-concept stage, SendMePls is preparing to launch a public Beta across Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal suburbs and townships, with 2,000 promotional trips planned for March.

The campaign includes 1,200 trips in Gauteng, 500 in Western Cape, and 300 in KZN, targeting active areas including the suburbs, townships like Soweto, Tembisa, Katlehong, Soshanguve, Mamelodi, Kagiso, Mohlakeng, Toekomrus, Sebokeng, Umlazi, Khayelitsha, and Langa, as well as surrounding suburban regions.

SendMePls is available on the Apple App Store and WhatsApp, with plans for nationwide expansion.

BUSINESS REPORT