Takealot Driver Salary in South Africa (2026): Per Delivery, Per Week and Per Month
Takealot driver pay is per delivery, about R27.50 a drop according to a reported payslip. That is roughly R2,700 gross in a busy week and R10,000 to R12,000 a month, before fuel, repairs and insurance. Takealot disputed the per-delivery figure, so confirm your own rate. Mr D, Uber Eats and Sixty60 pay differently, and we compare them below.
Takealot Driver Salary Per Delivery in South Africa
Takealot pays drivers per delivery. A driver payslip reported by The Citizen showed about R27.50 a delivery plus extra for distance, but Takealot Fulfilment Solutions disputed that figure, so rates may vary by route and change over time.
According to The Citizen's report on driver pay, distance pay is R2.54 a kilometre after the first 3 km, with a fuel surcharge on top. The same report mentions deductions, including R30 when a vehicle breaks down and fines of up to R240 a shift for being offline. Older pages, including earlier versions of this one, quoted R60 to R75 a drop. We could not back that up, so we have removed it.
Thinking of applying? Read the Takealot driver requirements first, so you know the documents and vehicle rules before you sign anything.
Takealot Driver Salary Per Week and Per Month
One reported Takealot payslip showed R2,700.34 for a week. At that pace a full-time driver grosses roughly R10,000 to R12,000 a month, and drivers told Briefly News they are paid weekly.
- Per week: the reported payslip was R2,700.34 gross, including R435.06 for extra kilometres and the fuel surcharge.
- Per month: that pace is roughly R10,000 to R12,000 gross if you keep it up. A Mr D driver told Briefly News that 15 to 20 deliveries a day gets her to about R5,000 a fortnight.
- Monthly or weekly: drivers interviewed by Briefly News in 2026 said they are paid weekly. Confirm the cycle in your own agreement.
How Much Does Takealot Pay for Your Car?
Takealot pays no car allowance as such. Reports show a per-delivery fee, extra pay per kilometre beyond the first 3 km and a fuel surcharge per order, while you cover fuel, repairs and insurance.
Mr D and Takealot contractor ads ask for your own light vehicle or motorbike, a roadworthy certificate and valid registration papers. Our guide to driving for Takealot with your own car covers what to bring and what to do if the car is not in your name.
Delivery Driver Salary in South Africa: Quick Comparison
Delivery apps pay a set fee per drop, usually R15 to R50 for food and about R27 for Takealot and Mr D. Formal owner-driver contracts with courier companies are estimated to pay more, but you carry the vehicle costs.
A delivery driver salary is not a salary at all. You are paid per job and cover your own running costs. For current openings, browse our courier driver jobs in South Africa hub.
| Platform | Pay basis | Gross monthly, full-time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takealot | About R27.50 per delivery plus distance | About R10,000 to R12,000 | Payslip report, The Citizen |
| Mr D Food | About R27 per delivery plus tips | About R10,000 (15 to 20 drops a day) | Driver reports, Briefly News |
| Uber Eats | R15 to R50 per delivery | R6,000 to R11,000 | Our estimate |
| Checkers Sixty60 | Base plus tips | R5,000 to R10,000 | Our estimate |
| Owner-driver contract (DSV) | Negotiated contract rate | R18,000 to R35,000 | Our estimate |
Mr D Food Driver Pay
Mr D drivers interviewed in 2026 reported about R27 per delivery for both car and bike drivers, with tips paid on top. Mr D and Takealot's delivery arm belong to the same group.
One driver explained that the fee stays the same whether the order is a single meal or heavy grocery bags. That makes tips and order volume the main ways to lift your income. Reported pay is lower than the R14 to R45 range this page used before, so check the rate shown in your driver app before you plan around any figure.
Courier Guy, Uber Eats and Sixty60 Driver Pay
Uber Eats pays roughly R15 to R50 per delivery by our estimate. The Courier Guy and Checkers Sixty60 work differently, with contract terms or a base plus tips, so pay depends heavily on the arrangement.
The Courier Guy uses owner-driver contracts and does not publish rates. Our list of courier companies looking for owner drivers compares who is hiring. For Sixty60 earnings and bike rental costs, read the Checkers Sixty60 driver salary page, or how to become a Checkers Sixty60 driver if you want to apply. DSV is covered in our DSV driver vacancies guide.
Operating Costs: What You Actually Keep
Running costs commonly take 40% to 50% of a delivery driver's gross pay. At about R11,700 gross a month, a driver with R4,000 to R8,000 in costs keeps roughly R3,700 to R7,700 before income tax.
| Cost | Monthly estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | R2,000 to R4,000+ | Depends on kilometres and fuel price |
| Maintenance | R500 to R1,500 | Services, oil, filters |
| Insurance | R800 to R1,500 | Check it allows delivery work |
| Tyres | R300 to R600 | Spread across the year |
| Total | R4,000 to R8,000 | Our estimate |
Contractor income is taxable. Most drivers register with SARS as provisional taxpayers and pay in August and February, because no PAYE is deducted.
Gross pay is the number apps show you. Take-home is the one that pays your rent
The Owner-Driver Guide is a 49-page, 11-chapter PDF for South Africans who want driving work to pay properly. It includes a worked example of income against running costs, and a simple expense tracker so you always know if you are profitable.
- Chapter 8: The real numbers, what you actually take home
- Chapter 9: Expense tracking, knowing if you are profitable
- Chapter 6: The three insurance policies you need
How Stable or Reliable Is Delivery Driver Income?
Delivery driver income is not stable. Pay moves with demand, weather and the hours you work, and drivers also report deductions and penalties that can cut a week's earnings.
- Weekday lunch (12:00 to 14:00) and dinner (18:00 to 21:00) are the busiest food windows.
- Weekends and month-end are generally busier across platforms.
- Penalties for breakdowns or being offline, as reported by The Citizen, can wipe out a slow day's pay.
- Working two platforms smooths out quiet patches, if your agreements allow it.
How to Earn More as a Delivery Driver
You can earn more by working peak hours, combining platforms and cutting costs. The bigger step is moving from fixed per-drop fees to an owner-driver contract where you can read and negotiate your rate.
Apps set the price and you accept it. Courier companies that hire owner drivers write contracts, and contracts have clauses that decide who pays for lost parcels, how your rate is worked out and how you exit. Many new drivers sign without reading them. Our guide on how to become a courier driver in South Africa covers the first steps, and the courier driver starter pack covers the kit.
Ready to move beyond R27 a drop?
The guide is written for drivers who want to run owner-driver work like a small business. It explains what courier companies demand, how to read the contract, and how to price your time and vehicle.
- Chapter 4: Decoding the Contract, clauses that cost you money
- Chapter 5: Negotiating rates and driveaway terms
- Chapter 10: Your first 90 days, mistakes that end careers
Frequently Asked Questions About Delivery Driver Salary in South Africa
A driver payslip reported by The Citizen showed about R27.50 per delivery, plus extra for distance beyond 3 km. Takealot Fulfilment Solutions disputed that figure, so rates may differ by route and change over time.
One reported payslip showed R2,700.34 for a week, including extra kilometre pay. That is gross pay before fuel, repairs and insurance, and it is not a guarantee.
A busy full-time driver on the reported rates would gross roughly R10,000 to R12,000 a month. Take-home is much lower once fuel, maintenance and insurance are paid. See our Sixty60 pay breakdown for a comparison.
Drivers interviewed by Briefly News in 2026 said they are paid weekly. Confirm the pay cycle in your own driver agreement.
There is no car allowance as such. Reports show a per-delivery fee, extra pay per kilometre beyond 3 km and a fuel surcharge per order. You cover fuel, repairs and insurance yourself.
Mr D drivers interviewed in 2026 reported about R27 per delivery for both car and bike drivers. Tips are separate, and rates can change, so check your driver app.
You apply for a contractor vacancy with your licence, ID, vehicle papers and a roadworthy certificate, as set out in our guide on how to become a Takealot driver. Check the pay terms in your agreement before you accept.
Most app-based delivery drivers gross roughly R6,000 to R12,000 a month. After running costs, many keep far less, and formal owner-driver contracts can pay more.
No. Pay moves with demand, weather and hours, and reported penalties for breakdowns or being offline can cut a week's earnings. Working two platforms, where your agreements allow it, helps smooth quiet patches.
Most delivery apps use independent contractors, so no PAYE is deducted and you handle your own tax. Your signed agreement sets the terms, so read it closely.
Yes. Contractor income is taxable, and most drivers register with SARS as provisional taxpayers and pay twice a year, in August and February.
Formal owner-driver contracts with companies such as DSV tend to pay the most, with estimates of R18,000 to R35,000 gross a month. Costs and contract terms decide what you keep. See the DSV driver vacancies guide.
Often yes, but check each agreement for exclusivity rules. Many drivers combine a parcel app by day with a food app at meal times.
A delivery app sets a fixed fee per drop that you accept as is. An owner-driver contract is an agreement with a courier company where rate, liability and exit terms can be read and negotiated. The owner-driver ebook explains how to do that.
NCR/NCA notice: Internet Business SA is not a registered credit provider. This content is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Internet Business SA is not affiliated with Takealot, Mr D Food, Uber Eats, DSV, The Courier Guy, Checkers or Pingo. Pay figures come from news reports, driver accounts and our estimates, and can change without notice. Confirm current rates with each platform. Related reading: courier companies hiring owner drivers.
