Shoprite’s Sixty60 Riders Earn R160 Million in Tips as US Targets SA Energy Sector

Shoprite Sixty60 delivery riders earn R160 million in tips while US firms target South Africa's oil sector amid rand gains and global peace hopes.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 19, 2026, 11:32 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from MyBroadband, Business Day, Daily Investor, and Mail & Guardian.

The Rapid Expansion of the Sixty60 Workforce

Shoprite’s on-demand delivery service, Sixty60, has fundamentally reshaped the South African retail labor market over the past six years. The platform has successfully created over 18,181 jobs, with a dedicated fleet of 10,000 delivery riders becoming a ubiquitous presence on national roads. Financial data from the second half of 2025 indicates that these riders earned more than R160 million in tips alone, a figure that underscores the high volume of transactions and the consumer reliance on the service amidst changing shopping habits.

American Strategic Interests in Local Energy

While diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria have faced recent challenges, the economic allure of South Africa’s energy landscape remains potent. United States companies and government officials are actively seeking to deepen their footprint in the domestic oil and gas sector. This push for increased presence comes at a time when South Africa is looking to diversify its energy mix, presenting a lucrative opportunity for American firms to provide technical expertise and capital in exchange for a stake in the region's developing resources.

Currency Resilience Amid Global Peace Negotiations

The South African rand has demonstrated unexpected resilience, strengthening to R16.32 against the US dollar as of Sunday. This appreciation is largely attributed to a weakening dollar and growing market optimism regarding a potential peace deal between the United States and Iran. Investors are betting that a successful resolution to the Middle East conflict will alleviate global inflationary pressures and potentially lead to a stabilization of interest rates, benefiting emerging market currencies like the rand.