Growing up in Ida’s Valley, Eon Hendrikse’s daily bicycle commute to Paul Roos Gymnasium was more than just a way to get to school; it was where his passion for cycling first took root.
Some years later, while pusuing an LLB degree at university, this Stellenbosch Network Entrepreneur of the Month for May found himself on a bike again, this time for a far more meaningful purpose. “I noted the struggles some of our elderly residents were experiencing just to collect their medication,” he related.
“They’d have to stand in long queues at the clinic, wake up early in the freezing cold, and many didn’t have any means of getting there. I had a healthy body, a bike and knew the area well, so I just started helping out where I could.” What began as a small, voluntary effort quickly grew.
Hendrikse’s nephew joined him in delivering freshly-baked koeksisters on Sundays. What worked in their favour at the time was that traditional delivery apps avoided the area for safety reasons. As time went by the gap in delivery services became more obvious, one that needed to be filled. The bicycling initiative he came up with had to be put on the backburner for lack of a formal business structure and resources.
That changed when Hendrikse was introduced to STROOM, a business and Stellenbosch Network member, led by Bouwer and Carlien van Niekerk. Their business pilots locally-manufactured, electric-assisted cargo bikes and e-cargo trailers that could carry goods quickly, safely and sustainably without petrol and with minimal environmental impact.
Hendrikse, his brother and a few other Ida’s Valley locals were invited to pilot these innovations.
The bikes, built by STROOM, can carry up to 150 kg, using their own battery systems. The pilot involved testing the bikes with real deliveries, ranging from newspapers to fresh produce.
From this pilot Hendrikse Deliveries was officially born. “Having that support changed everything,” its owner recalled. “We were no longer just trying to help; we were now building something that could grow.”
Although still in its early stages Hendrikse Deliveries has a strong foundation. With a handful of clients, a small team and plenty of ambition, Hendrikse is steadily building a business rooted in community, sustainability and mobility.
The partnership with STROOM continues to be central to Hendrikse Deliveries. Both businesses share a vision of a greener, more connected Stellenbosch, one where job creation, innovation, and mobility go hand in hand.
Through a further collaboration with the Greater Stellenbosch Trust and the Social Employment Fund, Hendrikse and his team are now educating local residents about e-cargo bikes and last-mile delivery systems. “The idea is to equip people with the skills to become riders,” Hendrikse pointed out, “but also to understand how these bikes are built and maintained. Eventually we want to see people start their own businesses.”
But no new venture comes without challenges. “Trying to formalise the big ideas in my head has been one of the hardest parts,” said Hendrikse. “But being part of the Stellenbosch Network gave me access to people and support that helped me start shaping a real business.”
His advice to other new entrepreneurs is to “stay curious, seek help, don’t take no for an answer, and build something that improves lives, that’s the way to build something sustainable”.
Whether it’s delivering medication to someone’s door or starting conversations around green mobility, Hendrikse Deliveries is proving that small ideas, powered by purpose, can go a long way.
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