Ulikhaya
Aphiwe Mazibuko.

Web Developer Software Development Student KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Open to Freelance & Backend Roles

I am a web developer, software development student and aspiring software engineer who enjoys building practical applications that solve real problems. My focus sits at the intersection of Java, web development, business thinking and problem-solving, not just writing code, but turning ideas into tools that actually work in the real world.

What drives me most is building backend and systems logic that supports real operations. I have worked on a production Java backend for a delivery business where I built the logic behind a full order-to-delivery pipeline. The system was built in plain Java and deployed on Railway which reflects the way I like to work: focused on reliability, clarity, and shipping real solutions rather than overcomplicating the stack.

I am also interested in integrations and automation because they create efficiency at scale. On the frontend side, I build with HTML, CSS and JavaScript and I enjoy creating interfaces that are simple, practical and easy to use on real devices in real conditions.

I care about building with purpose. I am not only interested in code as a technical exercise but I am interested in how software supports business operations, customer experience and decision-making. That mindset shapes the way I approach development: I understand the problem first, then design a solution that is useful and maintainable.

If you are looking for someone who is technically grounded, ambitious and practical in how they solve problems, that is the kind of software engineer I am becoming.

Primary Language Java SE
Based In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and able to travel or relocate to Gauteng
Open To - Freelance projects
    - Collaborations
    - Backend developer roles
Currently Building WeLearnSmart (EdTech SaaS)

Delivery Operations
Platform

A full order-to-delivery backend system built in plain Java, running live in production. No framework. No shortcuts. A real business depending on it daily.

WhatsApp Ordering System

Two-track ordering via WhatsApp Business API where customers order directly through WhatsApp, automated callback handler with South African phone number validation. No app download required.

GPS Location System

Customer shares location once via WhatsApp and then GPS coordinates captured via webhook, saved to Google Sheets, rendered as a pinpoint on a live delivery map showing exact house and order details for every delivery run.

Driver PWA

Progressive web app running on Android and iOS via private-key-gated link. Auto-loads paid and cash orders as colour-coded map pins, draws an optimised route, tracks delivery progress live, and handles proof-of-delivery and cash reconciliation from a phone in a moving vehicle.

Automated Broadcast System

Delivery-day broadcasts sent automatically such as "on the way," "we're outside," delivery confirmations and payment confirmations all fired from backend events via Meta webhooks. No manual messaging during a delivery run.

Google Sheets Data Layer

Sheets functions as the operational database which includes order intake, payment status and delivery status all live there, read and written to automatically by both the backend and the driver app. No manual data entry during a delivery run.

Production Deployment

Backend deployed on Railway, frontend on Vercel. A real multi-service production deployment. Not local development. A business runs on this system daily.

Project Stack Java WhatsApp Business API Meta Webhooks Google Cloud API Google Sheets API Apps Script HTML/CSS/JS Progressive Web App Railway Vercel Cloudflare

What I build with
and how I build it.

Practical skills built on real production work, not just tutorials and side projects.

Backend & Systems ~ Java

Built the backend system powering a delivery business's full order-to-delivery pipeline, this is a two-track WhatsApp ordering system, an automated callback handler with SA phone number validation, and the logic tying customer orders through to a live delivery dashboard. No framework. Plain Java, deployed and running in production on Railway.

Primary language · Production deployed
Integrations & APIs

WhatsApp Business API and Meta for Developers including webhooks which used WhatsApp as the entire customer interface for order-taking, automated delivery updates and payment confirmations. Google Cloud API which I've used to build a customer location system using WhatsApp's native location sharing, capturing GPS coordinates via webhook and rendering them on a live delivery map.

WhatsApp API · Google Cloud · Meta Webhooks
Automation ~ Google Sheets & Apps Script

Google Sheets API and Apps Script, Google Sheets used as an operational database for order intake, payment status and delivery tracking. Read and written to automatically by both the backend and the driver-facing app, with no manual data entry required during a full delivery run.

Google Sheets API · Apps Script · Workflow automation
Frontend ~ HTML / CSS / JavaScript

Built a driver-facing progressive web app that runs on any Android or iOS device via a private-key-gated link. It auto-loads the day's paid and cash orders as colour-coded map pins, draws an optimised route, tracks delivery progress live, and handles proof-of-delivery, payment collection and cash reconciliation, this is all done from a phone in a moving vehicle.

HTML · CSS · Vanilla JS · Progressive Web App
Hosting & Deployment

Railway for backend deployment, Vercel for frontend, Cloudflare for DNS and edge configuration. I'm comfortable running a real multi-service production deployment and not just local development. Understanding of environment configuration, deployment pipelines and keeping live systems stable.

Railway · Vercel · Cloudflare · Production ops
Tooling & Documentation

Git and GitHub for version control across full builds with a consistent commit discipline, branching and pull requests. Development environments: NetBeans, VS Code, Microsoft Visual Studio. Comfortable writing technical documentation, README-level project docs and inline code comments that help future collaborators understand the system.

Git · GitHub · VS Code · NetBeans · Technical writing

Beyond the technical stack.

Delivery Under Pressure I've built and shipped a production system with a real business depending on it daily. When something breaks in production, I diagnose and fix it.
Problem Decomposition I'm able to break large, complex problems into manageable components and tackle them systematically. The delivery platform was built piece by piece with each component isolated, tested and integrated.
Technical Documentation I'm comfortable writing clear technical docs that other developers can actually follow such as README files, inline comments, architecture notes and system documentation.
Learning on the Job The WhatsApp API, Google Cloud API and Railway were all learned while building and not before. I'm able to pick up new tools and frameworks with a real deadline in place.
Business-First Thinking I'm often learning and upskilling myself based on how software supports business operations and not just the code. I've designed a Business Clarity system around SME pain points, not just for technical elegance.

Education & certifications.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Foundations Oracle Corporation ~ 2025
Certified
National Diploma: Information Technology in Software Development IIE Rosebank International ~ 2025 – Present
In Progress

Ready to build something?

Whether that's freelance projects, collaborations or backend developer roles, get in touch.