A new online marketplace called VulaMarket has launched in South Africa to provide a free platform for buying, selling, offering services and finding work.
The platform was developed in Springs, Gauteng, and became publicly accessible in September 2025. It is available to users across South Africa at https://vulamarket.co.za.
VulaMarket was created to address the challenges faced by informal traders, small business owners, and job seekers who rely on expensive classifieds or commission-based platforms. The founder observed that many individuals selling goods such as fresh produce, second-hand items, and handmade products, as well as those offering services like plumbing, tutoring, and beauty services, lacked an affordable digital space to reach customers in their own communities.
The marketplace allows any individual to register and list items for sale without requiring formal business registration. Listings include a photo, price, description and location. Users can browse items by category and by proximity, including categories for goods, services, jobs, and community notices.
Unlike traditional business directories such as Yellow Pages, which list company contact details, VulaMarket is structured around active listings. Each listing includes current pricing and availability and expires after a set period to ensure that search results remain current. Businesses can post multiple products or services as separate listings rather than a single static profile.
The platform also includes a jobs section where households and businesses can post short-term and long-term opportunities, and individuals can offer their skills. This is intended to support local employment and day-to-day hustle work that is often advertised through social media or word of mouth.
According to the founder, the decision to make the platform free was intentional.
“We wanted to build something that works for the township economy and for people who are starting with very little. If someone has tomatoes to sell or can do nails at home, they should be able to open an online shop in two minutes without paying,” said the founder of VulaMarket.
All listings on VulaMarket are free and there is no commission charged on sales. Buyers contact sellers directly via phone or WhatsApp, with no intermediary.
The platform is currently focused on growing its user base in Gauteng and expanding to other provinces. Future plans include adding features for appointment booking and improved location-based search.
VulaMarket is independently owned and operated from South Africa.
About VulaMarket
VulaMarket is a South African online marketplace that enables individuals and small businesses to buy and sell goods, offer services, and find work. The platform was launched in 2025 and is accessible at https://vulamarket.co.za. Its mission is to provide a free, commission-free space for local trade
