Lungile Zondi

Izimvo has the honour of introducing the founder of MyShuttles.com: Lungile Zondi.

MyShuttles.com is a recently launched Internet Startup looking to change the way people travel. Their slogan, “Travel Safer, Greener and Cheaper” is the perfect description for their unique offering.

The site, which has been in development for two years, launched in January and has already garnered the interest of the local travel industry. With the Soccer World Cup only months away, MyShuttles.com is perfectly poised to take the industry by storm.

Website: http://myshuttles.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/myshuttles
Email: lungile.zondi@myshuttles.com
Location: Durban

Lungile was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: My close friends will introduce me as Lungi, she is 26 and a bit of a dreamer. I have always had a deep desire to do something special with my life. Recently I was given the opportunity to be involved in creating a new virtual market place in the private transport industry. I am still learning and really enjoying the exciting journey of being an entrepreneur.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I am extremely terrified of cockroaches. They seem to be around a lot more in summer especially in Durban. I’ve also never told anyone that I’m still afraid of the dark which I’m extremely embarrassed about especially at my age!

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: I love going on weekends away with my partner. The Drakensburg is one of my favorite places to go to get away from it all. I’m really not a person that enjoys the outdoors although every time we drive to the Drakensburg we make it a point to stop at one those of the cheese farms in the midlands area. It’s my favorite place to go when we travel on weekends away. I enjoy making small visits to some of the places en-route to Drakensburg.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: My dream home would be a home near the beach in Durban somewhere along the coast like Ballito or Zimbali. Any home or house where I can wake up in the morning, open the curtains and have an amazing sea view would be my dream home. It wouldn’t even have to be a mansion, just a decent house with a beautiful view.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property

Internet Entrepreneurship in South Africa

Q: You’ve recently launched your internet startup, MyShuttles.com Tell us about the site and how you come up with the idea?

A: While I was at university studying tourism, I could not stop dreaming about one day starting my own business up. Knowing the world cup would be coming to SA I wanted to somehow get involved.

My partner and I brainstormed ideas from hotel listing websites to adventure package holidays but they had all been done before. We then sat and really thought about South Africa and its problems, especially for people traveling to South Africa for the first time. South Africa’s public transport system is not as regulated as it is in more developed countries. Everyone uses cars to get around so how do people actually get around if they can’t afford to rent a car and don’t want to use the dangerous taxis, that have no timetables or route plans?

We did some research into shuttle/transfer/taxi companies in SA and realized that hundreds of these businesses exist. After doing more research we noticed that a large percentage of these companies are not able to take online payments on their websites. As a traveler there is no means of comparing the different prices of other travel operators, other than to ask for quotes from each one in turn.

We had found a new virtual market in South Africa (and the rest of the world). There is no price comparison websites where the customer is able to make payments directly to the travel operator and compare prices in once place.

Key features of the site being:

If the route the customer requests does not exist in the system, all the travel operators will be informed of the request and can make a bid for the customers business. The customer can then choose the one they prefer and buy directly.

If the route does exist in the system and travel operators have added times and prices the customer can compare and purchase then and there. MyShuttles.com was born. What came next was the hardest two years of mine and my partner’s life. Making MyShuttles.com a reality.

Q: What have been the biggest challenges in getting the site ready for launch?

A: What hasn’t been a challenge?  My partner is a software engineer by trade. He has worked tirelessly building the software with a friend. I don’t fully understand the intricate difficulties they have faced, but software has taken a long time to come to life. The software is amazing better that I could ever have imagined. It’s been worth the wait. MyShuttles.com was developed on a shoe string budget we have not borrowed any money to get to where we are today. It’s taken two years to get off the ground that’s plenty of time to question everything over and over again. Keeping focus when everything seems to be taking so long has been really difficult.

Q: Do you feel that the government is doing enough to assist small businesses such as My Shuttles?

A: I don’t really feel government does enough to assist smaller businesses. There are ways to improve your business by using government agencies. Although they do play their part, they may not do it as quickly as they could. It may sometimes take a long time for them to accomplish something that you may have requested to be done or when you have asked for help.

Q: If you were granted a single wish, how would you use it to improve your business?

A: I wish everybody in the world knew MyShuttles.com existed and what we are all about. It’s all about the advertising. I would like to have access to more money for a larger marketing campaign. This is one major way I would improve the business. Traffic, Traffic and more Traffic.

Q: What advice would you offer other would-be internet entrepreneurs?

A: To conduct as much research as possible. Have a strategy ready for when it comes to advertising and marketing. Think of and find ways to market your business online for free. Think of the costs involved in the marketing as this is extremely important because you can have a good product but this will be no good if nobody even knows it exists. Surround yourself with motivated intelligent people. Be decisive. Work hard, dream big and make it happen, if you don’t make it happen nobody is going to do it for you.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: I personally have never been affected by crime. My partner had his car stolen once. I cannot complain as some people have experience far worse in terms of crime. If something very serious had happened to me I believe I would have a different perception of the country although there seems to be crime anywhere in the world.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: I am one of those people that believe the grass is not greener on the other side. I love to travel and experience new cultures although I would not like to emigrate. South Africa is my home and I would probably complain about everything in that country if I ever left. I’m used to a certain way of life and certain types of foods. I find that even when I travel to other countries I tend to complain and be very critical about everything such as the food and even the people etc so, no I would not leave South Africa.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?

A: I would like to ask the president to make rape and the abuse of women at the top of his agenda. Awareness campaigns have been put in place but it does not seem to be making much of a difference to men who rape and abuse women. Since this is the case, other ideas should be put in place to ensure that men change their ways. This could begin with more harsh sentences for men who rape and abuse women and not simply letting them out on bail as soon as they arrested. The rape and abuse of women in South Africa I’m sure makes many women more wary of the men.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Old History Museum in Durban is must for international visitors. Another attraction I would take them to is Robben Island as well as Kruger National Park.

Q: South Africa’s greatest export is?

A: South Africa’s biggest export is ‘South Africa’. Tourists visit the country because of its beauty, animals and people. South Africa has attractive scenery and rich cultures as well as friendly people. It has cultural experiences that the rest of the world does not have to offer. When people visit our beautiful country they will take back with them a little bit of South Africa.

Life in Durban

Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Durban?

A: Durban has a really calm atmosphere about it. The people I find are friendlier than in other parts of South Africa I have lived in. And of course there’s the beach! Durban is also a very cultural place. There are also a number of activities one can do without having to pay a lot of money for.

Q: Favorite restaurant in or around Durban for a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch?

A: The one place I can never get enough of is Taco Zulu on Florida Road. The food is fantastic and the vibe is relaxing. It’s a very casual place and good for hanging out with a group of friends especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Q: What is the one place in Durban that is a must visit for all tourists?

A: The local History Museum in is must see for all visitors n Durban. The museum holds a rich array of individuals and cultural groups past and present that made their mark and contributed to what Durban has become today.

General

Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?

A: Khanyi Dhlomo has always been an idol of mine. Although she grew up in a greatly advantaged family, she seems to have worked extremely hard to get to where she is today. I believe she has set a very good example to black females in South Africa in terms of being your own boss.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: I would recommend “Capitalist Nigger” by Chika Onyeani. When I was in matric a few years ago we read books that one was able to analyze and agree and to disagree on. This book would give learners an opportunity to be able to express their own opinions. Although I do not agree with all that the writer states, it gives people something to think about. It is a good book to analyze because some people might not agree with the author about how Africans particularly are when it comes to setting up our own businesses. It is a controversial book by many means.

Q: Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?

A: Tomorrow I would love to wake up in a 5 start hotel overlooking the beach in Cape Town with a full English breakfast by my bedside ready and waiting for me!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Caster Semenya. I would love to have an account of her thoughts and feelings about what she went through last year.

We’d like to thank Lungile for taking the time to answer our questions and wish her every success with MyShuttles. Judging on the execution of this great idea, the attention to every detail and the rate at which suppliers are signing up, the future sure does look bright for My Shuttles.

Reminder to follow @izimvo on twitter for regular updates and our Facebook page to submit question and interviewee suggestions. You can also read all of our interviews on your iPhone using the Izimvo iPhone application.