About Us

Phusha Donsa was born from a simple yet powerful idea by farmer and mechanical designer Pieter Conradie—to make maize meal more accessible and affordable for rural communities in South Africa.

While working closely with these communities, Pieter witnessed a harsh reality: for many, the cost of traveling to town to buy basic food—like maize meal—often exceeds the price of the food itself. This led to a profound realization: "it is expensive to be poor."

In response, Pieter partnered with IT developer Armand van der Walt to develop a practical, technology-driven solution: a robust vending machine that dispenses maize meal in small, affordable quantities. Operated via smartphones and mobile payment apps, each unit functions autonomously and is installed at a local household. Community members who host the machines earn sales commissions and assist first-time users, creating both access and economic opportunity.

Phusha Donsa doesn't just bring essential food closer to the people who need it—it also empowers small-scale farmers by offering them a direct-to-consumer sales channel, improving their margins and market reach.

The name Phusha Donsa, meaning "push and pull" in Zulu, reflects our mission: pulling together technology, food access, job creation, and farmer profitability into one innovative solution.