Soaring youth unemployment and a lack of job opportunities remain among the most pressing challenges facing SA’s economic future.
To help address this crisis, Daimler Truck Financial Services SA (DTFS) has partnered with the YES Green Riders programme to open up new opportunities and help young people into secure, purposeful work.
The initiative sees 27 unemployed youths enrolled on a 12-month programme during which they will receive training to become professional delivery riders — termed Green Riders — and earn a monthly stipend of nearly R5,000.
The project is part of the broader Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, which seeks to provide practical workplace experience and skills development to improve long-term employment prospects for young South Africans.
DTFS CEO Mike Honiball said: “Recognising SA’s huge unemployment challenge, DTFS is committed to making a difference through the support of the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.
“Though our capacity to take in students is limited, we have extended our impact by sponsoring unemployed youth in other organisations as implementation partners.
“Our partnership with Green Riders exemplifies this approach.
“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.”
DTFS, with its manufacturing plant headquarters in East London’s West Bank, recently separated its car and truck operations from the Mercedes-Benz car plant, though the facilities remain adjacent.
The company’s collaboration with Green Riders is part of a wider commitment to five guiding principles — shared values, customer driven, people always, excellence and sustainability.
“Partnership is the cornerstone of DTFS’s business,” Honiball said.
“Our vision is to move the world through sustainable and intelligent financial and service solutions.”
The YES programme, which was launched in SA in 2010, has supported nearly 200,000 young people across the private and public sectors. It offers practical training and mentorship to help participants gain skills and confidence in the workplace.
Green Riders, DTFS’ implementation partner, is a turnkey e-mobility enterprise focused on both social impact and environmental responsibility.
Its training academy delivers a three-month intensive course covering e-bike handling, road safety, customer service, marketing, communication, food hygiene, navigation and the use of delivery aggregator apps.
Green Riders executive chair Richard Clarke said: “We are thrilled to have the strong support of Daimler Truck Financial Services SA in backing our young SA riders through the Youth Employment Service programme.
“These previously unemployed youth come from disadvantaged backgrounds, many who need to support their families financially.
“With the backing of this programme, they can now earn a monthly income and develop exciting careers, using environmentally-friendly delivery vehicles.
“This makes a substantial difference in their communities by reducing unemployment and minimising harm to our planet with smart environmental policies, giving the students in the programme a sense of purpose, dignity, pride and a vision for their futures.
“We thank DTFS for supporting our cause.”
The programme also prioritises sustainability by replacing fuel-powered motorbikes with high-performance e-bikes and e-motorbikes.
The electric vehicles can carry up to 100kg and travel up to 100km on a single charge.
Clarke said: “Their mission is twofold.
“First, they set out to transform unemployed youth into professional delivery riders through the Green Rider Academy.
“Second, they focus on prioritising sustainability by replacing fuel-dependent motorbikes with eco-friendly e-bikes and e-motorbikes.
“And, of course, they are taught to ride safely.”
As SA continues to grapple with structural unemployment, such public-private partnerships offer a glimmer of hope, equipping young people with the tools they need to build sustainable careers while supporting the country’s broader environmental goals.
Daily Dispatch
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