---
title: Vodacom South Africa and SmartOps launch e-hailing ecosystem - Developing Telecoms
description: Vodacom South Africa and SmartOps Fleet say they have assembled an ecosystem of partners from the technology, financial services, automotive and e-hailing sectors in a bid to broaden South Africa's growing e-hailing economy.
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Vodacom South Africa and SmartOps Fleet say they have assembled an ecosystem of partners from the technology, financial services, automotive and e-hailing sectors in a bid to broaden South Africa's growing e-hailing economy.

Under the programme – unveiled on Wednesday – Vodacom will serve as its enabling technology and connectivity partner, provides the connectivity and fintech capabilities that support the ecosystem, while SmartOps will provide fleet management vehicles, drivers, maintenance, insurance, tracking and day-to-day e-hailing operations.

Fidelity Services Group will provide vehicle tracking and dashcam solutions, while the Thiba Ingozi safety app will promote safer, more secure and connected operations.

The wider ecosystem includes Nedbank MFC, Motus, Tiger Wheel & Tyre, Tyres & More, vehicle manufacturers Renault and Dongfeng, which together will create a support network that enables programme-supported vehicles to operate on e-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt.

Vodacom said the programme aims to create a pathway for qualifying individuals to participate in the e-hailing economy through vehicle ownership, which presents numerous operational challenges, from from sourcing and managing drivers to maintaining vehicles, arranging insurance, and overseeing daily operations.

The programme is designed to reduce this complexity by helping qualified individual investors finance an approved vehicle through Nedbank MFC and lease the vehicle to SmartOps Fleet for managed e-hailing operations. Investor onboarding and finance applications are completed on the SmartOps Fleet platform.

“South Africa's mobility economy presents an opportunity to connect more people to economic participation through technology-enabled partnerships,” said Vodacom South Africa CEO Sitho Mdlalose in a statement. “By bringing together capabilities across technology and financial services, we are helping to create an ecosystem that supports broader participation for both vehicle owners and drivers.”

To qualify for the programme, individual investors should already be earning a minimum gross income of R15,300 per month, and will be required to pay the first instalment on the vehicle, with all subsequent instalments paid by SmartOps Fleet.

Investors enter into a lease agreement with SmartOps Fleet that mirrors the approved financing term. SmartOps takes responsibility for the operational management of the vehicle, including driver management, insurance, vehicle instalments, maintenance, tracking, and commission to investors. Commission earned by investors is calculated based on the vehicle instalment.

The investor will earn up to 40% commission every month, retain ownership of the vehicle and remain responsible for the underlying vehicle-finance agreement and the first instalment of the vehicle.

"What makes this model different is the ecosystem behind it,” said SmartOps CEO Mahene Benzane. “By bringing together expertise across finance, technology, fleet management, automotive and e-hailing services, we can support the management of a vehicle throughout its e-hailing journey while creating opportunities for both vehicle owners and drivers.”

The programme aims to introduce up to 55,000 vehicles over the next nine to 12 months, which could support up to 110,000 driver opportunities (assuming two drivers per vehicle). The initiative also targets a fleet mix of 66% electric vehicles in that time period.

 



   
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