These Cape Town innovators want to fix SA’s terrible daily commute

In Episode 13 of The Odds in Our Favour, Saskia Falken chats to Shaqeel Less about Uthutho: a platform designed to bring visibility, safety and real-time information to commuters. The spark for Uthutho began with a poignant question: why does something that so many rely on work the way it does? For University of the Western Cape graduates Less and co-founder Makhi Mangxola, that frustration became the starting point for Uthutho. As the two prepare to represent South Africa in Silicon Valley after winning the 2026 Red Bull Basement national title, Less shares how their own lived experience, technology, and asking better questions are helping reshape the future of transport. One of the questions needed to be solved in developing the idea was how to track the untrackable, like routes, delays, bus times, etc. This episode was proudly brought to you by Old Mutual Wealth – helping clients grow, protect, and preserve what matters most with investment strategies designed to support your legacy. Comment below. The full edition drops every Friday at 07:00 on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. The show is produced by An Wentzel and quality-checked by News24's editors.