Gauteng Partners with Shoprite to Create Digital Economy Jobs for Youth

Under the agreement, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development will continue identifying, recruiting and training participants through its existing Last Mile Driver Development Programme.

Hundreds of young people in Gauteng are set to benefit from new income-generating opportunities following a strategic partnership between the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) and the Shoprite Group aimed at expanding participation in the province's rapidly growing digital and logistics economy.

The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will connect qualifying graduates from Gauteng's Last Mile Delivery Programme to Shoprite's Pingo Delivery platform, creating a direct pathway from skills training to employment and economic participation.

Officials say the initiative represents a significant step in government efforts to tackle youth unemployment while preparing young people for opportunities emerging within South Africa's expanding e-commerce and delivery sectors.

Partnership Aims to Link Skills Development to Real Economic Opportunities

Under the agreement, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development will continue identifying, recruiting and training participants through its existing Last Mile Driver Development Programme.

The Shoprite Group, through its Pingo Delivery platform, will then provide qualifying graduates with access to delivery work opportunities within its growing logistics and e-commerce network.

The collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between training and employment by ensuring that young people who complete the programme gain direct access to the market rather than remaining unemployed after skills development.

Officials say this model reflects a growing shift toward partnerships between government and private companies aimed at creating practical pathways into the modern digital economy.

Gauteng Targets Growth in E-Commerce and Logistics Sector

The partnership forms part of Gauteng's broader strategy to strengthen participation in the province's rapidly expanding e-commerce, transport and logistics industries.

These sectors have experienced significant growth in recent years due to increasing online shopping activity, digital platform expansion and rising demand for delivery services.

Government officials believe the logistics economy offers major opportunities for youth employment, entrepreneurship and digital inclusion.

The initiative is linked to Gauteng's e-Commerce, Transport and Logistics Action Lab, which focuses on building a stronger logistics ecosystem through collaboration between government, private industry and development partners.

Last Mile Driver Development Programme Already Trained Hundreds

The Last Mile Driver Development Programme, established by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development more than four years ago, has already trained approximately 780 drivers.

According to the department, the programme has facilitated placement opportunities across 26 different delivery and logistics platforms.

The programme focuses on equipping participants with practical skills needed in the growing delivery economy, including:

• Driving and road safety skills

• Delivery logistics operations

• Customer service training

• Digital platform usage

• Professional conduct and compliance

• Operational readiness

Officials say the initiative has become an important mechanism for integrating unemployed youth into the expanding digital marketplace.

Shoprite Sixty60 Pilot Demonstrated Programme Potential

A pilot phase linked to the expansion of Shoprite Sixty60 — the retailer's popular on-demand grocery delivery service — has already shown encouraging results.

More than 100 trained programme beneficiaries were supported through recruitment processes across several Gauteng locations during the pilot stage.

The success of the pilot created the foundation for the expanded partnership now being formalised through the MoU.

Industry experts say the rapid growth of app-based delivery services is creating new forms of employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for younger workers with access to digital tools and mobility solutions.

MEC Says Partnership Will Create Tangible Economic Impact

Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, said the agreement demonstrates how government programmes can be translated into practical economic opportunities for communities.

"This agreement represents a practical step towards ensuring that our economic programmes translate into real opportunities for our people," Ramokgopa said.

She emphasized that partnerships with major industry players such as Shoprite help connect skills development initiatives directly to market access and job creation opportunities.

According to the MEC, the initiative is particularly important for enabling young people to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

"By partnering with industry leaders such as the Shoprite Group, we are able to connect skills development to market access, support job creation and ensure that young people, in particular, are able to participate in the digital economy," she said.

Shoprite Highlights Importance of Public-Private Collaboration

Shoprite Checkers Enterprise and Government Relations Executive Maude Modise described the partnership as an example of the impact possible through collaboration between government and the private sector.

"This partnership reflects the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors to unlock meaningful economic opportunities," Modise said.

She noted that connecting training programmes directly to real delivery and logistics opportunities helps create a more inclusive and sustainable economic ecosystem.

According to Modise, the partnership supports both income generation for participants and long-term growth within South Africa's digital and logistics industries.

Driver Development and Green Mobility Included in Partnership

Beyond employment access, the collaboration also includes several broader support components aimed at improving the sustainability and professionalism of delivery services.

The agreement includes:

• Driver development initiatives

• Operational support systems

• Safety and compliance measures

• Data-sharing cooperation

• Exploration of green mobility solutions

The inclusion of green mobility discussions reflects growing attention toward environmentally sustainable transport and delivery systems within urban logistics sectors.

Experts believe future delivery ecosystems will increasingly incorporate electric vehicles, alternative mobility technologies and more efficient transportation networks.

Governance Structures Established to Monitor Progress

To ensure proper implementation and oversight, the partnership establishes formal governance mechanisms including:

• A Joint Technical Team

• A Project Steering Committee

These structures will oversee operational coordination, implementation progress and long-term programme performance.

Officials say the governance framework is intended to improve accountability, monitoring and collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders.

Youth Employment Remains Major Priority in Gauteng

The partnership comes at a time when youth unemployment continues to remain one of South Africa's biggest economic and social challenges.

Government institutions increasingly view digital platforms, logistics services and e-commerce industries as important sectors for creating employment opportunities for young people.

The rise of platform-based economies has created new forms of work involving delivery services, transport operations and digital marketplace participation.

However, policymakers are also focusing on ensuring that such opportunities are structured, sustainable and linked to proper skills development and worker support systems.

Digital Economy Expanding Across South Africa

South Africa's digital economy has expanded rapidly in recent years due to increased smartphone usage, internet penetration, online retail growth and changing consumer behaviour.

Companies operating in food delivery, grocery logistics, courier services and app-based transport platforms have experienced significant expansion, particularly in urban centres such as Gauteng.

Analysts say partnerships like the one between GDED and Shoprite could become increasingly important models for integrating unemployed youth into emerging digital industries while supporting broader economic inclusion.

Officials believe the collaboration represents a practical example of how public-private partnerships can contribute to job creation, skills development and economic participation within South Africa's evolving digital economy.