2014: a practical start in Woodmead
CourierThis began in 2014 in Woodmead, Johannesburg, with Thabo Maseko looking at a common problem for small online shops: too much time spent phoning around for prices, pickup times and delivery choices. Many sellers were working from spare rooms, garage stock areas, or small offices, and they needed a quicker way to compare couriers without losing a whole morning to admin.
The first focus was simple. Build a service that could help small businesses choose between economy and express options, book pickups, and keep orders moving. In those early months the team spent a lot of time learning how local delivery patterns worked, from city centre collections in Johannesburg to longer routes into Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. It was basic, but it solved a real need and that mattered more than anything else.
- Started in Woodmead with a small team and a clear service need
- Focused on price comparison, pickup booking, and delivery option guidance
- Worked with small online shops that needed less admin and fewer delays
2015 to 2017: building trust with online sellers
As more small shops came on board, the service had to become more dependable and easier to use day after day. The team refined the way courier options were compared, making it simpler for business owners to see the difference between same day needs, next day deliveries and lower cost economy shipping. This was the period when CourierThis moved from being a useful idea to a working support service for growing online traders.
By 2016 and 2017, the team was also handling more requests for tracking support and returns collections. That is often where a small shop feels the pressure most, because customers want updates fast and returns need to be managed properly. CourierThis adjusted its support around these everyday problems, not just the first booking. Some days were busy, especially around month end and holiday trading, but the process got steadier and the service got sharper.
- Improved courier comparison so owners could choose by price, speed and area coverage
- Added stronger support for tracking questions and returns collections
- Built working routines for shops sending parcels across major metros
2018 to 2020: expanding across major South African centres
From 2018 onward, CourierThis began supporting a wider group of businesses across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha. That expansion was not just about covering more places, it was about understanding the differences between them. A pickup in Sandton is not the same as a delivery into a busy CBD block, and coastal humidity in Cape Town or Gqeberha can change how parcels need to be packed and collected.
During this period the team also put more structure around local delivery booking and national delivery booking. Shops selling clothing, accessories, homeware and small electrical items needed different handling and timing. The work became more practical, with clearer guidance on collection cut offs, rebooked pickups, and how to handle orders when load-shedding or weather caused delays. It was not always tidy, but it was honest and useful.
- Expanded support into Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha
- Strengthened local and national delivery booking options
- Helped shops plan around load-shedding, weather, and pickup timing changes
2021 to 2022: more support, less admin
As order volumes grew for many small shops, CourierThis added more support around shipping admin and multi order processing. This was a practical response to what clients were asking for, especially businesses with daily parcel movement and limited staff. Instead of spending time sorting each booking on its own, sellers could manage more orders with fewer repetitive steps.
Small shop onboarding also became a bigger part of the service. New traders often know their products well, but courier setup can still be confusing at the start. The team spent more time helping clients understand service levels, pickup arrangements, and how to keep customers informed. Around this time the company also paid closer attention to customer success, because good courier support is not only about rates, it is about helping a shop avoid mistakes that cost time and money.
- Introduced stronger shipping admin support for busy sellers
- Improved multi order processing for higher order volumes
- Gave new online shops more hands on guidance when setting up shipping
2023 to 2024: a stronger team around the service
By 2023 and 2024, CourierThis had a more defined team around the service. Thabo Maseko continued as Managing Director, with Naledi Khumalo overseeing operations, Jared Naidoo leading product work, Anele Dlamini guiding customer success, Megan van Wyk handling marketing, and Sipho Mthembu coordinating the courier network. That mix of roles helped the business respond faster to client needs and keep the service steady as the user base grew.
These years were also about sharpening the details. Delivery option guidance became more specific, pickup booking more organised, and support for small shops more personal. The team saw first hand how many owners were trying to do stock, sales, packing and delivery follow up all in one day. CourierThis worked to reduce that pressure where it could, one booking at a time, and sometimes that made the diffrence between a delayed parcel and a happy customer.
- Built a clearer operations structure with dedicated roles
- Improved courier network coordination for faster bookings and support
- Focused on practical help for busy small shop owners juggling daily orders
Today: helping small shops move from order to pickup
Today, CourierThis continues to support small online shops across South Africa with courier comparison, pickup booking, local and national delivery options, economy and express shipping, returns collections, tracking support and onboarding. The service stays close to the needs of real businesses in places like Woodmead, Midrand and Sandton, while still reaching sellers in the country’s main trading centres.
The story from 2014 to now is a steady one. Not a flashy one. It is about showing up, understanding what small businesses actually deal with, and making shipping less of a burden. CourierThis still works with the same practical aim it started with: help South African shop owners get parcels moving quickly, keep costs under control, and spend more time selling. That remains the point, and it likely always will be.
- Serves small online shops across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha
- Supports businesses through enquiry form contact only, with no extra fuss
- Keeps the focus on clear choices, reliable pickups and less admin