A Mr D Food rider has spoken out about their experience working for the company, including how much they earn per delivery and the penalties for not working, despite the company's telling them not to reveal any information. After discovering the demanding conditions delivery riders in South Africa endured in their day-to-day jobs, MyBroadband and BusinessTech spoke to numerous riders to better understand their experiences. It immediately became apparent that they were reluctant to do so due to instructions from the companies they worked for. "We are not allowed to speak to journalists," was a typical response. When asked about this, Mr D said that it is "not aware of any general directive instructing drivers not to speak to the media." "As a platform operating in a highly competitive last-mile delivery industry, we maintain strict confidentiality standards." One rider called Carlo, whose name has been changed for anonymity, was willing to speak about his experience working for the Takealot-owned company. Carlo said he has worked for Mr D for two years. It is important to note that delivery drivers in South Africa are not employees but rather independent contractors or gig workers, meaning they do not receive the benefits and protections an employee does. However, they can select how many hours and days a week they are willing to work. This is also the case in the e-hailing industry, allowing many to earn an additional income by working on the side. While he said that the number of days he works per week differs, his workdays remain the same at 12 hours from 8 am until 8 pm. Carlo says he can deliver between 15 and 20 deliveries daily, earning R28 per delivery. This works out to about R420 on a lousy day and R560 on a good one. While this brings in an average of R11,760 per month or just over R40 per hour, significantly more than the national minimum wage of R27.58, it also has to cover Carlo's riding expenses. These include fuel and vehicle maintenance, leaving him with R8,500 at the end of the month. According to Carlos, covering these expenses is the biggest struggle of the job, as Mr D does not subsidise any of it. When asked about this, the platform said that driver expenses are tracked, and payments are adjusted monthly to cater for changes in fuel costs. Carlos also owns his motorbike, so he does not have to pay rent, which many others do, costing roughly R450 per week. Even though one of the benefits of being an independent contractor is choosing when one works, Carlo says that all Mr D riders are required to work at peak time on Friday. He said that riders who are not online during this period face a penalty. However, Carlo did not elaborate on this penalty. Mr Delivery was acquired by the Takelaot Group in 2014 and its food delivery service rebranded to Mr D Food two years later, while its courier business became the Takealot Delivery Team. It would take another eight years before the food delivery platform turned a profit. Naspers, the owner of the Takealot Group, reported that Mr D was profitable for the first time at the end of the 2024 financial year. "Mr D has built a leading two-sided food-delivery marketplace in South Africa by providing superior service and better restaurant selection to customers, as well as an economically attractive channel to increase sales with minimal incremental cost or effort for restaurants," said Naspers. "In addition to the partnership with offline grocer Pick n Pay, Mr D expanded its product categories to include pet food and accessories, gifts and flowers as well as general merchandise, moving to a convenience-delivery model." In addition to speaking to Carlo, MyBroadband and BusinessTech also interviewed Patience, who works for Pick n Pay asap!

If you want to explore Cape Town's food market scene, here are three markets all foodies must definitely check out...

Looking to explore one of Cape Town's yummy food markets? Image: supplied
Cape Town's food markets are a major attraction, celebrating South Africa's rich flavors, music, and culture. Here are three top markets you won't want to miss.

1. The Mojo Market, Sea Point, Cape Town
For yummy food and the coolest vibes, Sea Point's Mojo Market is the place to be. The market boasts a number of food stalls and clothing stalls, with cocktail bars and live music performances thrown in for good measure. The Sea Point Promenade is a literal stone's throw away too – making this market the perfect place to fill rumbling tummies after a long walk on the Promenade. Open seven days a week from 08:00 to 24:00.

2. Root 44 Market in Stellenbosch, Cape Town
Located in the Stellenbosch Winelands, Root 44 offers a great variety of food, crafts, and live entertainment. Visitors can enjoy a range of international and local cuisines, including gourmet burgers, artisanal pizzas, fresh seafood, sweet treats, and much more at this charming food market set among the Stellenbosch vineyards. The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 17:00.

3. The Neighbourgoods Market at The Old Biscuit Mill
Located at The Old Biscuit Mill, the Neighbourgoods Market is a dynamic platform for smaller food merchants and artisans, designers, specialty producers and traders from around the city. There is a wonderful array of food to choose from, although it'll have to be either breakfast or lunch, as the market is only open from 9:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays and 10:00 to 16:00 on Sundays.

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has slapped 38 employers with fines amounting to R68 000 for hiring illegal foreign nationals without valid work permits in contravention of immigration laws.

In a parliamentary reply, Minister Nomakhosazana Meth said her department conducts blitz inspections in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and the police.


Meth said her department's mandate was to enforce the implementation of labour laws to ensure the protection of workers, while the Department of Home Affairs scrutinised the validity of visas and work permits through the application of immigration laws.

"In the event of non-compliance with immigration laws, the Department of Home Affairs arrests the non-compliant employers and employees."

Meth said during the blitz, 68 employers and 322 foreign nationals were found on the wrong side of the law across the nine provinces.

"With respect to the 68 employers arrested, each employer paid an admission of guilt fine to the amount of R10 000. Therefore, the total amount paid in lieu of fines is R680 000 while the 322 employees were taken for further processing as per immigration requirements," she said.

Meth's response showed that Eastern Cape led the pack with 34 employers that flouted the laws and were fined a collective R340 000, followed by Mpumalanga with 15, Limpopo eight, KwaZulu-Natal five, and two in the Western Cape.

She also said of the 322 foreign employees that were arrested, the largest number, 163, were from Limpopo.

The Western Cape came second with foreign nationals at 43, Eastern Cape and Gauteng at 34 each, Mpumalanga 30, KwaZulu-Natal 16, and Free State two.

In a separate response to another set of questions, Meth said her department received 6 255 work permit applications between April 2023 and March last year.

She said the role of her department was to make recommendations on corporate work visa applications regarding the availability of local labour in various categories.

The Department of Home Affairs makes final decisions or waive any recommendation made by any of these three departments after following their final internal processes or after consulting further with other departments such as those in the security cluster.

She added that of the 60 corporate applications her department received and processed, 5 383 were rejected.

A total of 872 work visas for migrant workers were recommended.

The applications were mainly from foreign nations from Zimbabwe with 445, Lesotho with 250, Mozambique 86, and Namibia 70.

The applications were for mining, agriculture, and education and training.

BusinessTech interviewed numerous Checkers Sixty60 drivers, who revealed how much money they make, the high number of foreign drivers, and engaging in dangerous road behaviour.

Checkers Sixty60 is a trailblazer in on-demand grocery delivery in South Africa. Launched in 2019, it quickly became the country's dominant grocery delivery service.
"Checkers pioneered the on-demand grocery delivery market in South Africa," Shoprite, which owns Checkers Sixty60, told BusinessTech.
"Several competitors subsequently followed suit, and within a few years, it is a service which has grown to benefit numerous stakeholders, including retailers, suppliers, customers, and delivery drivers."

During the pandemic, it received a significant boost when lockdowns and concerns over COVID-19 encouraged people to use delivery services.
In Shoprite's latest annual report, it reported that Checkers Sixty60 revenue increased 530.2% since FY2021.
Checkers Sixty60 promises customers to deliver their orders within 60 minutes of ordering and, therefore, relies heavily on efficient logistics. The backbone of Checkers Sixty60's logistics success is Pingo.

In October 2024, the Competition Commission approved Shoprite's transaction to acquire the remaining 50% of Pingo Delivery it did not already own.
Shoprite CEO Pieter Engelbrecht explained the deal was significant as relying on third-party operators could pose problems as Sixty60 expanded quickly.
"We need to have the entire value chain delivered at speed with continuous enhancements," Engelbrecht said.
"We are growing at such a pace that it is hard to keep up with us in terms of third-party vendors that maybe do not have the same balance sheet."
He said the acquisition made sense given the retailer's plans to significantly expand Sixty60's brand and offer a similar service for spaza shop owners at its wholesale retailer, Cash & Carry.
Today, Sixty60 is available at over 500 locations, provides more than 9,000 jobs, and its sales have increased over tenfold since the first half of 2021.

Checkers Sixty60 drivers
Shoprite said Sixty60 has created 11,681 on-demand delivery jobs since its inception and "continues to do so as its service expands beyond groceries to include general merchandise."
An impressive feat, none of this would be possible without those on the frontline of delivering the products – the drivers.
Delivery drivers expressed that they experience both advantages and disadvantages in their work and shared their experiences with BusinessTech on condition of anonymity.

"We were told we are not allowed to speak to journalists," said one Sixty60 driver. "Someone spoke out last year, and the company was not happy at all."
These drivers are ultimately gig economy workers, who can potentially earn more per hour compared to traditional labour due to incentives, surge pricing, and tips.
However, these drivers are not given employee status and are considered independent contractors, responsible for their own vehicles and many expenses, and thus often lack additional benefits.
On the positive side, they have increased earning potential, multiple job opportunities, and flexible work hours.
Many drivers told BusinessTech they find working for Checkers Sixty60 productive and well-managed, with the potential to earn a healthy amount through the number of daily deliveries.

However, they also noted that there are many downsides, and have noted that they have had to pick up other work to subsidise their income.
A study by Phumzile Princess Ngubeni from the University of Johannesburg pointed out the challenges of gig work, where flexibility comes with financial instability and lack of labor rights.
Drivers face long hours, low wages, job insecurity, and dangers such as high crime rates, safety risks during deliveries, and road harassment.

How much money Checkers Sixty60 drivers make
A big point of contention between drivers and the company is take-home pay. Drivers are paid on a per-delivery basis, with adjustments for batched deliveries (one or two at a time).
The drivers told BusinessTech they make an average of 15 deliveries daily. Some reported around 30 deliveries daily during their best days, though this is rare.
Drivers get a flat rate of R30, with adjustments for small subsidies for fuel ranging between R4 and R30 depending on the distance.
While the generated income may seem appetising, drivers said that the take-home reality for drivers is not very attractive.
Many said that they would earn roughly R7,500 to R8,200 monthly when receiving the minimum fee.

Drivers have the option of using their own motorbikes for deliveries or entering into a lease-to-own agreement.
The lease-to-own option includes a vehicle maintenance allowance and asset insurance with a linked service contract.
After covering operational expenses, they said that their take-home pay is about half their gross earnings after fuel, bike rent, data, and maintenance costs deductions.

They said that their fuel costs amounted to around R3,000 per month, and the bike rental was R400 per week, leaving them between R4,000 and R6,000 in net monthly earnings, depending on the month.
However, some have reported significantly higher take-home pay, particularly those who own their bikes, getting closer to R7,500.
Shoprite vehemently denied this. "Drivers do not subsidise their own petrol. A fuel surcharge is paid per delivery, according to specific kilometer bands, and it is adjusted monthly in line with the fuel price."

Drivers from multiple store locations have told BusinessTech that the fuel subsidies are very far from enough.
Shoprite chairperson Wendy Lucas-Bull said media reports regarding Pingo drivers' earnings were "orders of magnitude wrong".
BusinessTech pressed the retailer to clear the air about this and provide facts to dispute the drivers' claims. It refused.
"For safety and security reasons, we do not share or publicly discuss confidential contractual agreements," said Shoprite.
Drivers denied that the company's subsidies effectively cover operating costs, saying these costs significantly drain their monthly finances.
Shoprite said their on-demand delivery company, Pingo, "offers best-in-class industry rates, and as the market-leading sixty-minute delivery service, Checkers Sixty60 is a highly desirable client for drivers."
However, information received by BusinessTech showed that their R30 per trip flat rate is R10 less than Woolies Dash's R40.

Foreign nationals, driver safety, and benefits
There has been increasing attention on the makeup of locals in the on-demand delivery sector. Only around a quarter of the over 7,000 independent drivers on Pingo are South African.

Lucas-Bull confirmed at the end of 2024 that just 23% of Pingo's drivers are local, with an 80% drop-out rate for its driving programs.
"Obviously, we are doing exit interviews. The main thing we are getting back is that South Africans don't view that job as one they want to do, which is the challenge for us," she said.

Some have pinned this on the practices of independent contractors, whose approach is similar to Uber and other on-demand services.
They have been criticised for using the employment structure to avoid paying additional benefits over and above regular wages.
Democratic Alliance MP and attorney Michael Bagraim criticised the company, stating drivers have historically received little to no benefits or labour law protection.
Bagraim added that the Checkers Sixty60 drivers are forced to take countless dangerous trips to earn a decent living.
He argued that South African courts will likely classify these drivers as employees due to their consistent hours and low wages, which do not align with independent contractor status.

While more deliveries lead to higher earnings, drivers often push themselves to maximize their pay, raising concerns about reckless driving and road safety.
One driver, who is originally from Nigeria, said that he believes that most foreigners work for the company as it is a good source of income.

However, he said they have no freedom to complain because they are not guaranteed the same workers' rights as South Africans.
"The company does not like it when people complain. Foreigners complain less cause we may not get a job anywhere else," he added.
Shoprite denied these accusations of mistreatment of benefits or taking advantage of drivers due to them being foreign nationals.
"Pingo offers comprehensive cover to all independent contractors whose benefits include death and disability cover, hospitalisation, unlimited ER services & support, casualty benefit, funeral cover and 3rd party liability protection," it said.
"Support to drivers includes in-field operations teams, regionalised workshop facilities, and a central support team that assists with technical needs."