R20 Million to South Africa’s Delivery Drivers: MotionAds Marks a Milestone in Shared Value

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When MotionAds began in 2019 with three branded bikes and a bold idea, we weren’t just betting on a new media format. We were betting on people - the drivers we call our Motion Mavericks, and the belief that advertising could create opportunities that stretch far beyond impressions and reach.

Six years later, that bold idea has grown into a movement. More than R20 million in supplementary income has been paid directly into the pockets of drivers - a milestone that reflects both scale and soul.

This isn’t just about numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about school fees that get paid on time. It’s about groceries stocked in the kitchen, petrol in the tank, and peace of mind when bills come due. It’s about a mother in Gauteng who can now buy her children nutritious meals, or a father in Cape Town saving steadily to build his own bike fleet.

Every rand represents a story. Every campaign leaves a footprint not only on the streets, but in homes across South Africa.

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Our Double Bottom Line and Why It Matters

And as we’ve grown, so has our reach. Today, MotionAds operates in seven cities across South Africa - extending impact not just in metros, but into suburbs, townships, and communities often overlooked by traditional media.

From the start, we knew MotionAds had to work on two levels: campaigns that perform for brands, and campaigns that uplift the very people who bring them to life. We call it our double bottom line - success for clients and community impact, inseparable by the way we’ve built and designed our business.

That’s why we don’t just measure campaign metrics. We track driver earnings. We don’t just inspect bikes. We swap stories and connect with the people behind the helmets. For us, drivers aren’t “assets” in a network; they’re partners, names we know, and lives we care about.

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The Road to R20 Million ‍

Reaching this milestone wasn’t simple. In the early days, delivery bike advertising wasn’t in the media’s playbooks. We had to prove the value of a channel nobody was planning for.

But persistence paid off. Step by step, campaign by campaign, some of South Africa’s most loved brands - from Pick n Pay and Pepsico to Openserve and Vodacom - believed in us.
Together, we built a network that’s grown to over 2,000 branded bikes, reaching neighbourhoods no billboard could ever touch.

Take our Openserve campaign, for example: our drivers carried the brand across multiple cities, generating 7.6 million kilometres of exposure, 1.2 million hours of visibility, and over R2 million in direct supplementary income for our drivers in a single campaign. It’s proof that when brands invest in MotionAds, they don’t just reach audiences - they transform livelihoods.

And as we’ve grown, so have the opportunities for our drivers: flyer distribution, sampling, activations. More campaigns has meant more earnings, and more dignity in the day-to-day hustle of gig work. With our intricate tech, data tracking abilities, and activations layered onto campaigns, MotionAds has proven to be a platform for shared value - where brands grow and drivers thrive.

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More Than Milestones - It’s People

For many drivers, the supplementary income from MotionAds is more than just extra cash - it’s a safety net. It cushions the quieter weeks and helps cover everyday essentials.

As one rider shared: “That six months has changed my life since I’ve been with MotionAds. They’re paying for my cellphone contract and petrol so it makes everything easier.” Others put their earnings toward their families, investing in their children’s future or keeping households running smoothly. One driver explained: “The extra income helps me pay for my kids’ extra lessons and I can even buy them toys to play with.”

Looking Ahead

By 2028, our goal is bold: to surpass R100 million in total driver payouts. But the real milestone won’t be the number - it will be measured in the families fed, the school fees covered, and the dignity earned along the way.

This milestone belongs to our Mavericks, our clients, and every person who believed and still believes in building a model where purpose and performance grow together.

For us, R20 million is not the end of a chapter. It’s the beginning of a bigger story - one where South African creativity, grit, and shared value continue to prove what’s possible.
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Read more about this milestone in SA Good News, Media Update, Daily Good and Retail Brief.