For many South Africans, the e-hailing business seems like the perfect way to earn passive income. Whether it’s Bolt, Uber, or other platforms, thousands of car owners think leasing out their vehicles to drivers will bring a steady income with little effort. But the reality is often very different.
Many owners discover too late that managing an Uber car is anything but passive. Drivers may be unreliable, vehicle wear and tear is high, and payments are unpredictable. These challenges, combined with rising fuel costs and constant safety concerns, have made the e-hailing industry difficult for both drivers and car owners. That’s where Fleetly comes in, a platform that aims to remove the chaos and make car leasing truly effortless
A Business Born from a Personal Struggle
Fleetly was started by CEO Luyanda Jafta and his fiancée, Nozipho. They began their journey during a financially difficult time. They bought a motorcycle and used their personal cars to enter the e-hailing industry. But they quickly realised the business wasn’t as low-effort as they hoped.
“We quickly learned this is not a steady income,” says Luyanda. “We realised we could help others avoid the same mistakes. That’s how Fleetly was born.”
Luyanda emphasises that passive income proved to be misleading. The realisation emerged that they could assist people in preventing similar errors. Today, Fleetly operates as a full fleet company managing multiple vehicles and helping both owners and drivers succeed in a more structured way.
Solving the Problems of the Traditional Model
In the typical rent-to-own or rental model, car owners lease vehicles to drivers for R1 500 to R3 000 per week. But this model has major issues:
Fuel costs: Drivers often can’t afford petrol, which limits how many trips they can take. This affects both their income and the owner’s earnings.
Unstructured Vehicles: Drivers earn based on trips, with no fixed income. This means they can’t access credit or long-term financial services like car or home loans.
Underused Vehicles: Uber drivers can only work 12 hours a day and must rest for 6 hours. The car sits idle half the day.
Fleetly solves these issues by assigning four drivers to each car: two full-time drivers who work on weekdays and two part-time drivers who work on weekends. “With us, the cars earn between R60 00 and R90 000 per month. Owners receive a net income between R 9000 and R 17 000,” he adds.
The table below shows earning estimates at full capacity.
*Please note that this is only indicative and may fluctuate in the market.
How Fleetly Works
Getting started is simple. Car owners can visit Fleetly’s website and click on “Manage My Car” to book a meeting with Luyanda. During the meeting, they discuss whether the car qualifies and what earnings to expect.
After that, they handle registration, assign drivers, and take over full management. The whole process takes about 2 to 4 weeks.
Fleetly handles everything, including insurance, driver salaries, maintenance, petrol and more. “Owners just get a monthly statement and their payment,” he explains.
A Better Life for Drivers
Fleetly is not just about making car owners money, it’s also changing the lives of drivers. All drivers go through a strict selection process, including vetting, interviews, and probation periods. Only 3% of applicants make it.
The drivers receive contracts, steady pay, and job security. Many use this opportunity to support their families and start saving. “Some drivers were at their lowest point when we met them. God used this vehicle to fetch them,” Luyanda smiles.
Trust, Technology, and Impact
The success of Fleetly depends significantly on trust and proven results. “We are our first customers. We have done this ourselves before offering it to the market.” He points out that most new clients come through referrals.
Fleetly’s tech system is fully digital, combining tracking, accounting, and driver performance tools. But Luyanda warns against putting too much focus on technology. “Tech is the means, not the goal. We are a people-based business that uses tech.”
Fleetly has already created hundreds of jobs and aims to create 1 000 in five years. “At this rate, we might hit that goal in our first year,” he says.
The Future of Fleetly
Fleetly’s vision goals extend beyond South Africa. They hope to expand, help more drivers become owners, and create more jobs.
“We want each driver to eventually become an owner, and pay it forward by creating more jobs,” Luyanda concludes.
Any owner who is stressed about managing their e-hailing business should consider Fleetly to avoid the hassle. Earn a great income and contribute to the economy by creating jobs.
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