Welcome to MzansiServices, a beginner-friendly tech project built by four passionate learners from WeThinkCode_ JHB campus. Our mission is simple: make it easier for people in townships and under-resourced areas to connect, offer services, and track their income – even without a fancy app or expensive tools.
MzansiServices is a simple website where anyone can:
- 📢 List a service they offer (like braiding, tutoring, laptop repairs).
- 🔎 View local services available nearby.
- 📞 Contact a service provider (via WhatsApp or SMS).
- ✅ Log a payment (mock — or using testnet Celo for crypto learning).
- 📊 See insights on the services and earnings.
It's like a digital "yellow pages" + payment journal built for township entrepreneurs — by learners who want to uplift others through tech.
We’re four learners, each bringing our unique background and goals:
- Itumeleng Zulu – Designed the front-end with a focus on accessibility. Believes the internet can help level the playing field and protect constitutional rights.
- Riyaaz Mahamed – Handled the backend and cloud logic using Firebase. Loves building smart, scalable solutions for real-world use.
- Tumiso Dinkoanyane – Created a simple dashboard to show service trends. He’s bridging finance and data for the next generation of fintech.
- Jason Arnold – Built a basic Celo smart contract simulation to show how township service providers could one day receive crypto payments directly.
| Part | Tools Used |
|---|---|
| Frontend | HTML + JS (or React), Tailwind CSS |
| Backend | Firebase Firestore, Firebase Functions |
| Auth | Firebase Authentication |
| Hosting | Firebase Hosting or Vercel |
| Data | Firestore → CSV / Simple dashboard |
| Blockchain Sim | Celo + Remix IDE + Alfajores Testnet |
- Sign up with email (Firebase Auth).
- Add your service (title, category, price, location, contact).
- Users browse available services and contact providers via WhatsApp/SMS.
- Providers mark services as paid (manual/mocked), or log testnet Celo transfers using a simple smart contract deployed on Alfajores.
- Users view a simple dashboard showing stats like total services listed, mock earnings, and categories.
- ✅ Easy to use, fast, low-cost — perfect for mobile-first African use cases.
- 🌐 Celo’s mission aligns with ours: financial inclusion and digital empowerment.
- 🧪 We used Remix IDE and Celo’s Alfajores testnet to simulate basic peer-to-peer payments.
We wanted to:
- Solve a real problem: lack of tools for small service providers in SA townships.
- Learn by building a complete, working MVP we can demo to mentors and communities.
- Show that beginners can dream big and start small, smart, and together.
- Add real geolocation to find services near you.
- Allow USSD/SMS sign-up for people without smartphones.
- Add real mobile Celo payments using Valora wallets.
- Collaborate with township entrepreneurs to test and improve it.
To WeThinkCode_, the Celo community, and all mentors who’ve helped us learn and grow.
Built with ❤️ in Johannesburg, South Africa
Empowering communities, one service at a time.
Welcome to MzansiServices, a beginner-friendly tech project built by four passionate learners from WeThinkCode_ JHB campus. Our mission is simple: make it easier for people in townships and under-resourced areas to connect, offer services, and track their income – even without a fancy app or expensive tools.
MzansiServices is a simple website where anyone can:
- 📢 List a service they offer (like braiding, tutoring, laptop repairs).
- 🔎 View local services available nearby.
- 📞 Contact a service provider (via WhatsApp or SMS).
- ✅ Log a payment (mock — or using testnet Celo for crypto learning).
- 📊 See insights on the services and earnings.
It's like a digital "yellow pages" + payment journal built for township entrepreneurs — by learners who want to uplift others through tech.
We’re four learners, each bringing our unique background and goals:
- Itumeleng Zulu – Designed the front-end with a focus on accessibility. Believes the internet can help level the playing field and protect constitutional rights.
- Riyaaz Mahamed – Handled the backend and cloud logic using Firebase. Loves building smart, scalable solutions for real-world use.
- Tumiso Dinkoanyane – Created a simple dashboard to show service trends. He’s bridging finance and data for the next generation of fintech.
- Jason Arnold – Built a basic Celo smart contract simulation to show how township service providers could one day receive crypto payments directly.
| Part | Tools Used |
|---|---|
| Frontend | HTML + JS (or React), Tailwind CSS |
| Backend | Firebase Firestore, Firebase Functions |
| Auth | Firebase Authentication |
| Hosting | Firebase Hosting or Vercel |
| Data | Firestore → CSV / Simple dashboard |
| Blockchain Sim | Celo + Remix IDE + Alfajores Testnet |
- Sign up with email (Firebase Auth).
- Add your service (title, category, price, location, contact).
- Users browse available services and contact providers via WhatsApp/SMS.
- Providers mark services as paid (manual/mocked), or log testnet Celo transfers using a simple smart contract deployed on Alfajores.
- Users view a simple dashboard showing stats like total services listed, mock earnings, and categories.
- ✅ Easy to use, fast, low-cost — perfect for mobile-first African use cases.
- 🌐 Celo’s mission aligns with ours: financial inclusion and digital empowerment.
- 🧪 We used Remix IDE and Celo’s Alfajores testnet to simulate basic peer-to-peer payments.
We wanted to:
- Solve a real problem: lack of tools for small service providers in SA townships.
- Learn by building a complete, working MVP we can demo to mentors and communities.
- Show that beginners can dream big and start small, smart, and together.
- Add real geolocation to find services near you.
- Allow USSD/SMS sign-up for people without smartphones.
- Add real mobile Celo payments using Valora wallets.
- Collaborate with township entrepreneurs to test and improve it.
To WeThinkCode_, the Celo community, and all mentors who’ve helped us learn and grow.
Built with ❤️ in Johannesburg, South Africa
Empowering communities, one service at a time.