Takealot Delivery Drivers Put Naspers Labour Risk in Focus

In Short

Takealot delivery work is becoming a bigger labour and compliance issue for Naspers.

What Happened

Takealot is under growing scrutiny over delivery driver safety and working conditions. At Naspers’s recent AGM, the board said it does not disclose deaths or accidents among its delivery workers because there is no industry guidance or standardised reporting.

The group said it is working on future disclosure and is engaging stakeholders to define what should be reported. Debra Meyer, an independent non-executive director, said Naspers is advancing internal reporting while it looks for meaningful public metrics.

The questions came from Just Share, a South African nonprofit focused on shareholder activism. It asked how many of the company’s 15,000 Takealot delivery workers and 7,000 Mr D delivery workers were injured or killed in the 2026 financial year. It also asked what the company paid in claims, medical costs, or compensation.

Just Share also raised questions about the make up of the delivery fleet, including the share of foreign nationals, asylum seekers, or refugees. It asked how July anti-migrant protests in Johannesburg affected driver earnings and safety, and whether drivers lost access to the platform.

Why It Matters

This is moving from a social issue to a business risk. Platform work means jobs arranged through an app, often with workers treated as contractors instead of employees.

Three forces are tightening the screws. The International Labour Organisation adopted Convention 193 in June, which is a binding global standard on platform work and includes protections for migrant and refugee workers. South Africa’s Labour Law Amendment Bill was gazetted in February, and it includes a presumption of employment, which can shift contractor models toward employee status and raise costs. In July, anti-migrant protests reportedly took delivery platforms offline across parts of Johannesburg.

Pressure is also rising globally. Deliveroo’s Italian unit recently said it would raise rider pay after legal action and allegations of labour exploitation. For Naspers and Takealot, better reporting and clearer worker protections could become table stakes for regulators, investors, and the public.