Bolt Driver Kamogelo Lucas and the Future of Mobility in South Africa

By Bolt

Kamogelo Lucas Modise’s journey is a powerful reminder that some of the most transformative ideas come from within the communities they aim to serve. From being a Bolt driver to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, Lucas has emerged as one of South Africa’s most exciting mobility innovators proving that local insight, when paired with the right support, can spark meaningful change.

As one of the top three participants in the Bolt Accelerator Program South Africa, Lucas received special recognition for his groundbreaking venture, Lupa Township Delivery, earning the Most Innovative Idea Award. His concept is both simple and revolutionary: a sustainable, cost-effective, zero-emission bicycle delivery network designed specifically for township communities, using a community-driven model to bridge long-standing delivery gaps.

Bicycles are already widely available in townships, yet they have long remained an untapped asset within the formal delivery economy. Lucas’s solution enables local residents to register with Lucas Modise Enterprises (Pty) Ltd and use their own bicycles to deliver food in areas where many food businesses are hesitant or unable to operate. Currently, four bicycles are actively operating within the township, and the company’s website is set to launch soon, allowing more people to sign up and make use of the platform.The model not only improves access to food delivery in underserved locations, but also creates employment opportunities for township residents. For elderly people, especially those living alone while children are at school, the service can be a lifeline, making everyday errands safer, faster, and more accessible.

Lucas credits much of his progress to his experience in the Bolt Accelerator Program, where targeted mentorship, business training, and access to resources helped him refine and scale his idea. The program supported him in turning a lived experience into a viable, scalable business model with the potential to address real mobility and logistics challenges across Gauteng and beyond.

“We are incredibly excited to see how the Bolt Accelerator Program has supported Kamogelo on his journey,” says Fikile Nzuza-Chunga, Senior Public Policy Manager for Bolt South Africa. “We are proud of how far he has come and everything that he has achieved. Kamogelo’s success shows what’s possible when we invest in the people within our driver ecosystem and give innovative ideas the space to grow.”

That success was recently reaffirmed on a provincial stage. Lucas Modise Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, a standout participant and overall best performer in the Bolt Accelerator Program South Africa, went on to win Overall First Prize at the Hollywood Foundation’s 3rd Annual Gauteng Bambelela Business Awards. Competing against 291 SMMEs across the province, Lucas’s bicycle delivery model was recognised for its scalability, sustainability, and social impact earning a R130,000 prize.

Hosted in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED), the Hollywood Foundation, and MTN, the awards celebrated more than R11.7 million invested in empowering small businesses across South Africa. The event’s theme, “Creating Globally Competitive SMMEs through Collaborative Empowerment and Partnerships,” strongly echoed the mission of the Bolt Accelerator Program: enabling local entrepreneurs to build businesses that can compete and thrive at scale.

Looking ahead, Lucas’s vision is bold and clear. Over the next year, he plans to expand from Soshanguve into other townships across Gauteng, with the long-term goal of rolling out the model to townships nationwide. With further funding and continued partnerships, he aims to close mobility and delivery gaps while driving inclusive economic growth.

Kamogelo Lucas’s story exemplifies the broader impact of the Bolt Accelerator, demonstrating that innovation doesn’t only come from boardrooms or tech hubs, but from drivers, communities, and everyday experiences. By empowering African innovators from within its ecosystem, Bolt continues to show that the future of mobility in South Africa can be local, sustainable, and community-led.