Čau,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Eskom unveils first fleet of electric vehicles
- How a barbershop queue sparked Kindlybook
- SA cracks down on e-hailing with new law
Eskom unveils first fleet of electric vehicles
South African grid operator Eskom just rolled out its first-ever fleet of 20 electric vehicles, a mix of bakkies and light trucks, marking the beginning of what it says will eventually be 100 EVs on the road. The power utility cut the ribbon this week, with experts on hand for demos and even test drives to show off the shift to e-mobility.
The EVs will mostly be used in Eskom’s distribution and generation divisions, which form the backbone of its operations. The company says this isn’t just about keeping the lights on but also about proving that electric mobility works in South Africa’s real-world conditions.
Eskom’s big-picture plan? Fully electrify its distribution fleet by 2035. To get there, it will ramp up charging infrastructure at its sites while also installing 55 public charging stations in the next two years. This move could help spark broader adoption beyond Eskom’s own vehicles.
CEO Dan Marokane says the fleet is about more than shiny new cars. “Through e-mobility, we’re cutting emissions, boosting innovation, and showing how sustainable energy solutions can deliver benefits for both communities and the economy,” he explained. Eskom is also baking EV load forecasting into its grid planning to make sure the system can handle the added demand.
Smart charging systems and time-of-use tariffs are in the works, designed to make EV ownership cheaper and greener for South Africans. The company’s chargers — first installed back in 2024 — have already been used to deliver nearly 3,500kWh of power, mainly by employees and visitors before the EV fleet arrived.
For now, Eskom says the rollout is going smoothly. Partnering with GridCars, it’s testing out “smart” chargers that don’t just juice up cars but also help balance the national grid. If this works as intended, Eskom’s EV move could double as a crucial research tool for stabilising South Africa’s fragile power system.
How a barbershop queue sparked Kindlybook
For over a decade, Charles Dairo never missed his Sunday haircut. It didn’t matter how busy he was running CKDigital, the web design agency he founded 13 years ago — after church, he always made time for a trim. But one crowded trip to the barbershop in 2020 sparked a bigger question: why couldn’t he just book an appointment and skip the wait?
That simple frustration planted the seed for Rizevo, a booking app he built with a small team. On paper, it was brilliant. In reality, no one wanted it. Six months in, not a single business had adopted it. Charles realised something important; he was solving his own problem, not the customer’s.
To get closer to the problem, he opened his own appointment-only barbershop, Haircot, as a live experiment. For a year, he tested whether Nigerians would actually book and pay for services online. They did. But with limited capital and bandwidth, he shut it down in 2022.
Two years later, something surprising happened. Businesses started signing up for his dormant platform, now reborn as Kindlybook. This time, beauty businesses — from salons to barbershops — were driving the adoption.
In Nigeria, beauty businesses remain largely informal, with many relying on pen-and-paper schedules or walk-ins. But with smartphone use at an all-time high, Dairo believes Kindlybook can digitise this space, making booking as easy as scrolling Instagram. Already, nearly 500 businesses are on board, and more than 90% are beauty-focused.
How exactly does Kindlybook work, and why are beauty entrepreneurs finally embracing it? Find out in Chimgozirim’s latest for Techpoint Africa.
SA cracks down on ride-hailing with new law
South Africa is tightening the rules on the ride-hailing industry. And this time, the penalties are serious. Under the newly approved National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act, e-hailing drivers who break the law could face up to two years in prison or fines as high as R100, 000. Regulators will also be able to suspend or revoke operating licences if drivers step out of line.
The move comes after months of rising violence between ride-hailing drivers and minibus taxi operators. Just last month, 27-year-old driver Siyanda Mvelase was shot and his car set on fire outside Maponya Mall in Soweto. Another driver narrowly escaped, while a bystander was injured by stray bullets, incidents that pushed the government to act.
Instead of requiring charter permits or meter taxi licences, drivers will now get an official e-hailing licence, complete with clear rules. Cars will need to display ride-hailing signs, licences will specify operating zones, and drivers will undergo criminal record checks and hold professional driving permits. Added safety measures include panic buttons and updated profile photos for client verification.
Transport committee chair Donald Selamolela says this law has been years in the making, but the violence has accelerated its rollout. It’s now waiting to be gazetted in October, after translation into another official language. “While the Act can reduce violence, it won’t stop the natural evolution of the industry,” he admitted.
E-hailing platforms, meanwhile, are backing the changes. inDrive called the amendments a big win for safety and professionalism. “Safety has always been at the heart of our operations,” said Ashif Black, inDrive’s country rep. “These reforms bring clarity, fairness, and a safer environment for both drivers and riders.”
The taxi industry remains wary, complaining about unlicensed drivers undercutting rates. But with the government finally stepping in, the NLTA could reset the balance between taxis and e-hailing platforms, and perhaps keep drivers safe in the process.
In case you missed it
- Zoho Nigeria’s year-on-year growth slows to 74%
What I’m watching
- A Test to Measure How Good Your Father Was
- How Different Social Classes View Marriage
Opportunities
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is hiring a Sales Associate. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Managing Editor (FMCG). Apply here.
- Flutterwave is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is recruiting a performance marketing specialist in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Kuda is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Kuda Technologies is hiring a Legal Counsel. Apply here.
- FairMoney is looking for a Head of Business Banking Product. Apply here.
- Moove is recruiting a Customer Success Executive. Apply here.
- Ecobank Nigeria is hiring a Chief Information security officer. Apply here.
- The Institute of African and Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos is looking for a Junior Research Fellow. Apply here.
- MTN Nigeria is hiring an Operational Risk Specialist. Apply here.
- Co-Creation HUB (CcHUB) Nigeria is looking for a Head of Communications. Apply here.
- Group Vivendi Africa is hiring an IT Manager. Apply here.
- Sun King is hiring across different states in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Africa’s venture scene takes the spotlight at the Lagos Venture Finance Summit on September 5th, 2025. Hosted by Vencapital, the Summit gathers top LPs, GPs, policymakers and ecosystem leaders for high-level conversations, networking and dealmaking. A must-attend for those shaping Africa’s next wave of venture capital. Register here.
- Paystack is hiring for several roles in Nigeria and South Africa. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting for several positions. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- Are you building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
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Have a superb Thursday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
