Image Source: The South African
Local – SheGo is a women-only ride-hailing platform that connects female passengers with female drivers across South Africa, with safety and economic empowerment at its core. The app, launched just one month ago, is already available nationwide and has attracted significant interest from both prospective drivers and passengers.
The initiative was founded by Durban entrepreneur Firdaus Ally, a flight attendant who says a personal experience while using a ride-hailing service in Johannesburg last year was the catalyst for building the platform.
Concerned not only for her own safety but for that of women around her, she decided to move beyond raising awareness and instead build a feasible solution.
“I personally last year went through something myself in Johannesburg. And when I got back to the UAE, I was like, ‘No, it could also be my child one day, my daughter going through it, my family member, a cousin, a friend going through what I went through.’”
Women-Only by Design
Unlike existing ride-hailing platforms, which offer female driver filters as an optional feature, SheGo operates as an exclusively female environment. Men are entirely barred from accessing the app, with biometric verification ensuring that only women can register as drivers or passengers.
Ally personally reviews every driver application submitted to the platform, a decision she said is central to maintaining safety standards.
“If I feel or see that there’s something sketchy, immediately I block the driver, and they’re not allowed to sign up as a passenger or driver afterwards.”
Driving Economic Opportunity
Aside from safety, Ally sees SheGo as an economic opportunity for women struggling to find stable employment. Drivers can use the platform as either a primary or secondary source of income, and Ally is also exploring options to provide vehicles to women who cannot afford their own.
She said her ambitions for the platform exceed building a successful app, framing SheGo as more of a social movement.
“I want to create a safe space — a safe transporting space for women in South Africa. That is my main priority.”
