Former Fish Hoek High pupil builds grocery-saving web app
Tinashe Madanire, right, and co-founder Tendai Katiyo, both university students, are the creators of EasiShop — a web-based tool designed to help South Africans compare grocery prices and save money.
Image: Asavela Mavanda
A former Fish Hoek High School pupil is using his tech skills to help South African families stretch their grocery budgets.
Tinashe Madanire, a 26-year-old student at Stellenbosch University, along with his co-founder Tendai Katiyo, launched a price-comparison website called EasiShop earlier this year.
The idea? A simple website where users can track deals, build shopping lists, and find the best prices across major retailers.
But behind the code is a story rooted in the far south.
“I grew up in Noordhoek after my family immigrated from Zimbabwe in 2009,” Tinashe said.
“My parents worked blue-collar jobs, but they made sure my brothers and I had a good education and food on the table. We learned to stretch every cent — that shaped how I think about money and problem-solving.”
Tinashe Madanire pictured in his Fish Hoek High School uniform. His years at the school helped spark his love for technology — a passion that would later lead to the creation of EasiShop.
Image: Supplied
Tinashe and his siblings attended Fish Hoek Primary School and Fish Hoek High School.
It was at Fish Hoek High that his love for technology began, thanks to a subject called Electrical Technology.
“That’s what made me fall in love with figuring out how things work,” he said.
After matriculating, Tinashe began his studies at Wits University, but had to pause during the Covid-19 pandemic due to financial strain.
That led to an unexpected opportunity. An internship at the Fish Hoek Old Mutual branch, after a chance meeting with the then-manager, Dalton Lakey.
“Working there opened my eyes to how businesses are run. When I eventually got a chance to study again, this time at Stellenbosch, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. Something useful," he said.
Tinashe Madanire during his school days at Fish Hoek Primary.
Image: Supplied
In just a few weeks since launch, it’s already gained more than 2 000 users and built a strong Instagram following, according to Tinashe.
“We’re not just saving people time, we’re helping them save money, especially lower- and middle-income households, where budgets are tight," he said.
His inspiration, he says, comes from watching his mom compare grocery prices using paper catalogues.
“She did it all by hand. Now, we’ve made it possible in a few clicks.”
While the platform currently focuses on major chains, he envisions a delivery service that combines orders from multiple stores into one package.
“Fish Hoek would be the ideal place to test that,” he said, “because the stores are close together.”
For now, he juggles his studies, part-time work, and the business alongside co-founder and fellow student Tendai Katiyo.
“It’s a lot,” he said. “I don’t really have a social life.”
But it’s the feedback that keeps them going.
“One person said, ‘This is exactly what I needed,’” Tinashe said.
“That kind of response makes it all worth it.”
Although the web app is growing nationally, he says he’s especially keen to hear from people in the far south.
“The valley has such a mix of people and shopping habits. I want to hear their stories — what works, what’s missing, and how we can make it better.”
He also hopes what he has done inspires other young people to take the leap and build something meaningful of their own.
“If you see a problem in your community, don’t wait for someone else to fix it,” he said. “Start small. Speak to people. Find out what they need. You’ll face challenges, but you’ll learn and grow. Even failure can be one of your biggest steps forward.”
To explore the platform, visit www.easishop.co.za