PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – In a bold step towards addressing South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis and accelerating the adoption of sustainable business practices, Daimler Truck Financial Services (DTFS) has joined forces with innovative e-mobility enterprise Green Riders to deliver a high-impact youth development initiative.
Through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, DTFS is sponsoring 27 young South Africans for a 12-month immersive experience designed to transform them from unemployed youth into professional, environmentally conscious delivery riders. This partnership exemplifies DTFS’ unwavering commitment to its core convictions—particularly “People Always” and “Sustainability”—and speaks volumes about the company’s broader purpose: “Move the world through sustainable and intelligent financial and service solutions.”
“Recognizing South Africa’s significant unemployment challenge, DTFS is committed to making a difference through the support of the YES programme,” said Mike Honiball, CEO of DTFS South Africa. “Although our capacity to take in students is limited, we extend our impact by sponsoring unemployed youth in other organizations as implementation partners. Our partnership with Green Riders exemplifies this approach.”
Empowerment Meets Environmental Innovation
Founded with a vision to create measurable social change while championing cleaner, greener urban mobility, Green Riders offers a comprehensive, proudly South African solution to the challenges of youth unemployment and pollution in the delivery industry. The company’s Green Rider Academy provides a rigorous three-month training curriculum that covers every facet of the modern delivery profession—from road safety and e-bike handling to customer service, food hygiene, and digital platform navigation.
By replacing conventional, fuel-based motorbikes with state-of-the-art e-bikes boasting a 100kg cargo capacity and up to 100km of range per charge, Green Riders is revolutionising the logistics landscape one rider at a time.
“These previously unemployed youth come from disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom support entire families,” said Richard Clarke, Executive Chairman of Green Riders. “With the support of this programme, they can now earn a growing monthly income and develop exciting careers using environmentally friendly delivery vehicles. This makes a substantial difference in their communities by reducing unemployment and minimizing harm to our planet.”
Creating Careers With Purpose
The impact of this collaboration extends far beyond basic employment. It offers participants a meaningful opportunity to build sustainable livelihoods, gain market-relevant skills, and become pioneers of South Africa’s growing green economy. As DTFS strategically aligns with implementation partners like Green Riders, it ensures that its vision of long-term societal value is reflected not only in its own operations but in the communities it serves.
“We chose Green Riders because they not only upskill the youth but also integrate environmental sustainability into their business model, aligning perfectly with our strategic priorities at DTFS,” added Honiball.
A Roadmap for the Future
As South Africa faces staggering unemployment rates—particularly among young people—collaborations like that of DTFS and Green Riders are not only inspiring but essential. They serve as blueprints for how the private sector can help reshape the socio-economic landscape by pairing innovation with inclusivity.
In a country in urgent need of scalable solutions, this partnership delivers on two critical fronts: it creates jobs where they are desperately needed and propels the transition toward a low-emissions future.
With the right partners, a single e-bike can represent more than a mode of transport—it can be a vehicle for hope, dignity, and opportunity.
