South Africa: Two Former Wits Students Taking SA Gaming Global, Starting With Taxis and Spinning

What the report says

Two former Wits University students, Eric Gardiner and Mamello Raboroko, are drawing attention for building a South African gaming business around local culture and everyday life. According to Daily Maverick, the pair first gained momentum in 2022 when a taxi-themed game prototype they developed with two classmates won a competition run by Wits Tshimologong.

The win helped them launch Vetkoek Studios and produce Taxi Ranked, a game that has since surpassed 500,000 downloads. The title lets players drive a customizable taxi while navigating potholes, collecting passengers and avoiding police, with bright visuals and details that reflect South African brands and settings. Daily Maverick reported that the project’s popularity has now placed Gardiner and Raboroko among the top 15 finalists for the 2026 Création Africa incubation and immersion programme, hosted by the French Institute of South Africa.

The article frames the duo’s work as part of a broader effort to put South African stories into global gaming. Beyond the specific game, they said they want to use their platform to encourage other young people to enter the industry. The piece also points to a common challenge for emerging creators: turning an award-winning prototype into a sustainable company with wider reach.

More broadly, the story highlights growing interest in games that reflect local language, transport, fashion and humor rather than imported settings. That context helps explain why Taxi Ranked has stood out while remaining rooted in a distinctly South African experience.