Uber Eats–Gauteng partnership surpasses targets, unlocks R1bn for township businesses

Banele Ginindza

A three-year partnership between Uber Eats South Africa and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development to support the implementation of the Township Development Act (TDA) has exceeded expectations, delivering significant economic benefits for township-based entrepreneurs and delivery partners.

Since its launch, the initiative has digitised more than 2 000 township merchants and created about 7 500 income-earning opportunities, while expanding access to customers well beyond local foot traffic.

Uber Eats invested R250 million in skills and capacity building, covering merchant onboarding, hardware, and in-app marketing tools aimed at improving visibility and stimulating demand for township businesses.

The investment also enabled delivery partners to access new bicycles and educational resources, supporting safer and more sustainable earning opportunities.

Collectively, the partnership has generated more than R1 billion in economic value for township merchants and delivery partners, driven by exposure to millions of Uber Eats users across Gauteng.

Uber Eats General Manager for Sub Saharan Africa, Ntsoaki Nsibanyoni, said the programme was a live example of how the Township Development Act is being implemented through a public–private partnership focused on sustained market access, not once-off support.

“The outcomes achieved to date demonstrate a model that has proven sustainable, scalable, and grounded in real economic participation, offering valuable lessons for how inclusive growth can be supported through collaboration and digitisation,” Nsibanyoni said. 

Nsibanyoni said the next stage of the programme when it comes for review later this year is to progress from a job creation perspective to an entrepreneurial one.

"If one person has a bike, how do we enable them to have 10 more bikes? How do we enable the person with one container for Kota to have 10 across townships?

"So, scaling this partnership for the merchants and delivery partners, hence we have the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), the American and South African Chambers of Commerce here as well because out of this we are now going to see how we bring the government assets financing houses with what we know to really spread access to the platform for our local township merchants and delivery partners."

Lebogang Maile, MEC for Economic Development in Gauteng, said the partnership's success had proved the need for a policy that directly and unambiguously categorised and enabled  township development.

"This partnership demonstrates what is possible when government policy is matched with delivery capability and trusted technology partners like Uber Eats. Township economies are central to Gauteng’s growth, and through Uber Eats’ digital platform we have been able to expand access to markets and create real earning opportunities," Maile said.

"The impact we are celebrating today reflects the entrepreneurs, delivery partners, and institutions who are building a stronger, more inclusive economy from the ground up. We are proud of this partnership and look forward to deepening its impact in 2026 and beyond.”

He said through the implementation of the TDA with the Uber Eats partnership, more than 70 000 township entrepreneurs across the various sectors had been identified for systematic development and possibly industrialists as there was a need for more production capacity in the township economy.

Speaking at the event, Saskia de Jongh, general manager for Uber Eats Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), reflected on the significance of this milestone.

“Township economies have always been rich in entrepreneurial talent. What this partnership reflects is what happens when access, demand, and delivery infrastructure come together in the right way," she said.

"For us as Uber, this is not about technology for its own sake, it is about creating real, sustainable pathways for businesses and earners to participate in the economy and grow on their own terms.” 

BUSINESS REPORT