Checkers Sixty60, launched by the Shoprite Group in November 2019, operates as South Africa’s first supermarket-backed 60-minute grocery delivery service. Customers place orders through the dedicated app in around 60 seconds and receive deliveries of everyday essentials and general merchandise in as little as 60 minutes across available areas. The platform relies on a fleet of motorcycle riders contracted through Pingo, a last-mile delivery subsidiary, to meet the tight time targets. Since inception, the service has created more than 11,681 on-demand delivery jobs, with roughly 9,000 active drivers nationwide at latest counts.
The core purpose remains clear: provide rapid, affordable grocery delivery while leveraging Checkers’ low prices and Xtra Savings deals. Riders operate as independent contractors, handling their own vehicles, fuel, maintenance and data costs. Pay structures centre on per-delivery fees of approximately R30 to R35 per trip, supplemented by variable fuel subsidies. Drivers typically complete 15 deliveries per day on average, with some reaching up to 30 on peak days, yielding gross monthly earnings around R7,500 to R8,200 before deductions. After fuel (often R3,000 monthly), bike rentals (around R1,600 monthly) and other expenses, net income frequently falls to between R2,800 and R6,000, depending on whether riders own their motorcycles or lease them.
While the service has expanded rapidly and earned recognition for convenience, a growing body of motorist reports and public complaints highlights serious road-safety issues linked to the delivery model. Multiple independent news outlets and consumer platforms document patterns of dangerous riding that have become a frequent topic of discussion among South African road users. Common behaviours cited in complaints include speeding through traffic, skipping red lights, travelling the wrong way down one-way streets, weaving aggressively between vehicles, cutting across pavements, and ignoring stop signs or traffic rules. Some motorists have publicly described the riders as “worse than taxis” in terms of disregard for other road users.
Consumer review site Hellopeter currently rates Checkers Sixty60 at 1.53 out of 5 stars, with a substantial portion of the low score attributed directly to delivery riders’ reckless habits. Motorcycle safety expert Hein Jonker, founder of the Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa, has publicly raised concerns over on-demand riders’ widespread disregard for road laws, lack of respect for other users, and insufficient professional training. Jonker has pointed to sub-standard or potentially fraudulent motorcycle licences, ineffective testing processes, poor vehicle maintenance, and a general absence of foresight that can lead to catastrophic outcomes for both riders and the public.
Pressure to complete deliveries within strict 60-minute windows drives much of the observed behaviour, according to drivers interviewed by BusinessTech. Riders have acknowledged pushing themselves to maximise the number of trips for higher earnings, which directly contributes to elevated road risks. The gig-economy structure classifies them as independent contractors without employee protections or benefits, intensifying the incentive to take on more orders regardless of conditions. Foreign nationals, who make up the majority of the workforce (only 23–30 % South African according to recent Shoprite figures), have been noted in reports as particularly affected by these pressures.
Incidents tied to this pattern have drawn official attention. In one documented Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department operation targeting delivery motorcycles, authorities arrested 10 riders and confiscated 15 bikes. Viral dashcam and CCTV footage circulating on social platforms has shown specific cases of close calls, near-misses and collisions involving Sixty60 riders, including riders entering oncoming traffic or crashing while manoeuvring at speed.
Shoprite and Pingo have responded by expanding rider training programmes, establishing dedicated training centres, increasing internal motorcycle servicing, fitting heavy-duty braking systems, and supplying better protective gear. The companies have also stated they monitor and intervene in cases of unsafe behaviour. Despite these measures, motorist complaints continue to surface regularly, with many arguing that the combination of time pressure, high delivery volumes and variable rider experience has turned Sixty60 motorcycles into a visible hazard on South African roads.
As the service grows and more orders flow through the app, the tension between rapid delivery expectations and road safety remains unresolved. Facts from consumer feedback, expert analysis and driver accounts consistently show that while Sixty60 fulfils its promise of speed and convenience, the operational model has produced documented patterns of reckless riding that South African motorists encounter daily.
15-Year-Old Male Arrested in Atlantis for Possession of Unlicensed 9mm Pistol
Atlantis – Members of the Atlantis Crime Prevention Unit arrested a 15-year-old male on Sunday night, 5 April 2026, in Bunting Crescent, Atlantis, after he was found in possession of an unlicensed 9mm pistol.
The unit was conducting routine crime prevention patrols in the area when officers spotted a group of people standing on a street corner. As the members approached the group, one individual fled on foot. A unit member pursued the suspect and apprehended him.
During the apprehension, the 15-year-old male was found to be in possession of the unlicensed firearm. He was immediately arrested on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Atlantis Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 7 April 2026. No further details regarding the firearm or additional items recovered have been released at this stage.
This incident forms part of ongoing efforts by the Atlantis Crime Prevention Unit to address illegal firearms in the community.
Seven Killed in Head-On Collision on M17 Between Motherwell and KwaZakhele
A head-on collision on the M17 road between Motherwell and KwaZakhele in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, claimed the lives of seven people on Sunday afternoon, 5 April 2026, at approximately 3pm.
Dashcam footage recorded from the manganese truck shows a Renault seven-seater SUV, which was carrying seven occupants, suddenly drifting out of its lane and moving directly into the path of the oncoming truck. The vehicles collided head-on within seconds, with the truck driver having no time to take evasive action.
All seven occupants of the Renault were killed in the crash. The deceased consisted of three men and four women. No other fatalities or injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
Eastern Cape Transport Department provincial spokesperson Unathi Binqose confirmed that the crash involved the seven-seater SUV with seven occupants and the manganese truck travelling in opposite directions. A case of culpable homicide has been opened at Swartkops SAPS. Authorities are using the dashcam footage as part of the ongoing investigation to determine what caused the Renault to leave its lane. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Eastern Cape Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha extended condolences to the families of the deceased. Motorists using the M17 have been urged to remain cautious, stay within their lanes, and avoid any behaviour that could lead to loss of control on routes shared with heavy vehicles.
The incident occurred on a section of the M17 regularly used by both light vehicles and heavy trucks. No further details on road conditions, weather, or mechanical factors have been released at this stage.
A 14-year-old boy was killed on Sunday after the vehicle he was driving overturned on the M25 in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal.
Emergency services were dispatched following multiple calls from members of the public reporting a serious motor vehicle accident. Responders arrived at the scene at approximately 15:59 and located a blue Toyota Corolla Quest that had overturned multiple times.
The boy was driving the vehicle in the eastbound lane when he failed to negotiate a bend. The car veered onto the extreme right verge before rolling several times. It came to a stop on all four wheels in the opposite lane, facing the westbound direction.
The boy’s father was a passenger in the vehicle. It is alleged that the father was under the influence of alcohol, which led to the 14-year-old operating the car.
The boy was ejected from the vehicle. Paramedics assessed him at the scene and found that he had sustained fatal injuries. He was declared deceased on arrival.
The father was handed over to the police for further investigation.
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- 15 Armed Suspects Hijack Multiple Vehicles at Petrol Station Near Nandoni Dam
- Checkers Sixty60 Drivers Fuel South Africa’s Fastest Grocery Delivery Service – But Motorists Report Widespread Reckless Road Behaviour
- A fight broke out outside Cocoon Lifestyle club in Sandton, Johannesburg, on 6 April 2026.
- 15-Year-Old Male Arrested in Atlantis for Possession of Unlicensed 9mm Pistol
Pretoria Learner Zané de Jager Dies Unexpectedly During Voortrekker Camp at Thaba Veldwerkkamp
Zané de Jager, a Grade 11 learner at Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, while attending the Thaba Veldwerkkamp. The camp is located on a farm approximately 20 km northwest of Brits and forms part of the long-established Voortrekkers youth fieldwork programme, which focuses on field, survival, and life skills taught by experts and learned through practical experience.
De Jager’s parents were on vacation in Botswana when the incident occurred. Camp organisers remained in continuous contact with her commando leader, Lourens van Staden, throughout the relevant period.
Reports indicate that camp leaders, medical officers, and a doctor were present on site. Emergency protocols were followed, including the calling of a helicopter. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, and the incident remains under investigation.
Hoërskool Waterkloof issued a statement expressing deep sorrow: “Met groot hartseer groet ons ’n Klofie, Zané de Jager. Haar pragtige glimlag en mensweens sal vir altyd in ons gemeenskap onthou word. Ons gedagtes is by haar familie, vriende en almal wat haar geken het. Mag sy in vrede rus.” The school community has rallied around the family, offering support to De Jager’s relatives and friends.
The head management of the Voortrekkers described the loss as “’n onbeskryflike verlies” and stated that their hearts go out to her family, friends, fellow Voortrekkers, the camp management, commando leader, and all youth members of Thaba affected by the tragedy. Karin Stoffberg, head leader of the Voortrekkers, confirmed that camp organisers had maintained ongoing communication with the commando leader and offered prayers for comfort and strength for those grieving.
Condolences have also come from other affiliated groups, including Laerskool Monumentpark and various Voortrekker branches such as Sytze Wierda and Rietvallei, all expressing sympathy and prayers for the family.
The death has prompted an outpouring of messages on social media platforms, with members of the broader community noting the programme’s established safety record while some calling for a full independent investigation into the circumstances. No further details on the investigation’s progress have been released by authorities at this time.
De Jager, born on 9 November 2005, was remembered by the school and Voortrekker community for her smile and positive presence. The family has not issued any public statements beyond the support extended by the school and organisation.
