Chat with SA Citizen Journalism App (Voonja) Founder

With technology moving at a dizzying pace, we are at a time where we are presented with amazing innovations. The outstanding results are often found where apps are used for community development. We recently had an opportunity to speak to the founder of an amazing app called Voonja.

YV: What inspired voonja.com?

We aim to give the public a voice. Our mantra is unedited and uncensored. We want to provide the public with news from a subjective perspective.

YV: Who are the founders

Tshimanga Tshilenga
Kim Chulu
Diamond Mubaraak

YV: Why mobile?

Mobile is becoming the go-to device for news content. Applications are becoming the norm for everyday life and soon enough it will become the number one source for news readers.
It’s simply more convenient and you have access to it 24/7 unlike other traditional sources of news.

YV: Who are you targeting?

We are targeting South Africans that would like to share newsworhty content about their community. We want people to tell their story in their own words. We are targeting activists in communities.

YV: What are some of the challenges you faced creating this platform?

As with creating any new technology, public acceptance is a big test of character. We are currently in our launch phase and every step we take it seems to get even more challenging. BUT that’s why we are entrepreneurs, the challenge is what drives us.

YV: How did you fund the venture?

We are bootstrapping. We have all the talent in-house, so we plan to build VOONJA until we feel that we cannot grow any further without some capital investment.

YV: How do you intend to make it sustainable?

VOONJA has got many updates planned but we started with an MVP (minimum viable product) to go to market. Each update is targeted at a particular audience and to make it more exciting. With this strategy in place we know that we will be able to compete for many more year to come.

YV: What are some of the key features people can expect from the platform?

VOONJA is a user-driven platform. What this means is that content and content-monitoring is done by the public. We encourage people to share news in their view. No article can be posted without a picture, this allows the public to verify whether the content is true or not. If they feel that you have crossed the line, they can report it and we will comply with the public’s view.

YV: How can the general public use this app?

You can download the app from the playstore and the iStore. It’s very easy to use and navigate.

YV: World over citizen journalism platforms have played a massive role in addressing governance issues and raising awareness to issues affecting communities whether positive or negative. Why is citizen journalism a key feature in stimulating engagement between the public and government?

People who live in communities such as townships or villages sometimes feel like their problems are not high-priority to government. Media outlets don’t report in these areas because a media company is profit driven and therefore might not see the economic benefit sending reporters in such areas. This has the effect of making them feel as second-class citizens and therefore they tend to react in violence e.g. strikes, protests. We would like to become the voice of these citizens and give them a voice.

YV: Smartphone penetration has created massive opportunities in SA. As a mobile start up what are some of the constraints mobile app start Ups are faced with and how can they be addressed?

The biggest constraint we found was having the right support. Having a great business ideas and running a great business are two very different skills. The only way to merge the two is to be taught by someone who has done it successfully before. We are privileged to be part of Mlab at The Innovation Hub and to be surrounded by other entrepreneurs that are running successful business.

YV: What advise can you give to young people who would love the create start ups in the mobile spaces?

Find people who are in the business you are trying to build and ask them to become a mentor or to advise you. You will be surprised at how many people are willing to become mentors of small start-ups. They end up having more fun than you.

YV: Who are some of the young people you look up to within the mobile and internet start up space in SA?

The list could be endless Xola Ndziba, Derrick Kotze, Daniel Adidwa, all the guys from Sowertech and The Hub at large.

YV: What can we expect from voonja.com in the next 5 years?

In 5 years VOONJA wil be providing news to the public from all over the country not only big metro areas. Breaking news will be synonymous with VOONJA.

YV: Where can people download it?

Search for VOONJA on the playstore and iStore.