Pedalling with Purpose – Meet the Entrepreneur behind Hendrikse Deliveries
Growing up in Idas 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. Years later, while studying toward his LLB at Stellenbosch University, Eon found himself on a bike once again but this time for a purpose far more meaningful.
“I started noticing the struggles some of our elderly residents were experiencing just to collect their medication,” Eon explains. “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. Soon, his nephew was joining in, delivering freshly baked koeksisters on Sundays. What worked in their favour was that traditional delivery apps at the time avoided the area due to safety concerns. As time went by, the gap in delivery services became more and more obvious, but with no formal business structure or resources, the initiative eventually had to take a step back.
That all changed when Eon was introduced to STROOM, a Stellenbosch-based business and fellow Stellenbosch Network member, led by Bouwer and Carlien van Niekerk. Their idea was to pilot 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.
Eon, his brother, and a few other Idas Valley locals were invited to pilot these innovative e-cargo bikes across Stellenbosch. The bikes, built by STROOM, are designed to carry up to 150kg using their own battery systems. The pilot involved testing the bikes with real deliveries, ranging from newspapers and magazines to fresh produce, meals, and even wine.
From this pilot, Hendrikse Deliveries was officially born. “Having that support changed everything,” Eon says. “We were no longer just trying to help, we were now building something that could grow.”
Today, Hendrikse Deliveries is still in its early stages, but the foundation is strong. With a handful of clients, a small team, and a whole lot of ambition, Eon 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 collaboration with the Greater Stellenbosch Trust and the Social Employment Fund, Eon 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, but also to understand how these bikes are built and maintained. Eventually, we want to see them starting their own businesses,” he says.
In a town grappling with increasing traffic congestion, the use of e-cargo bikes offers an eco-friendly solution and a smarter, more agile way to rethink how goods move through urban spaces. And because the bikes are manufactured locally by STROOM, each new unit also stimulates jobs in design, manufacturing, and logistics.
“It’s not just about my business,” Eon explains. “It’s about showing what’s possible when local people work together to solve local problems.”
Building a business hasn’t come without its challenges. “I didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs, so everything has been a learning curve,” says Eon. “Trying to formalise the big ideas in my head has been one of the hardest parts. But being part of the Stellenbosch Network gave me access to people and support that helped me start shaping a real business.”
For now, Eon still handles most of the day-to-day operations himself. But he is far from discouraged. “Looking back, the progress has been huge. Even with only a few customers, every delivery is a step forward.”
His advice to other entrepreneurs looking to start something of their own is to “stay curious, seek help and don’t take no for an answer. Build something that improves lives, that’s how you build something sustainable.”
Whether it’s delivering medication to someone’s door or sparking conversations around green mobility, Hendrikse Deliveries is proving that small ideas, powered by purpose, can go a long way.
To find out more, visit: www.hendriksedeliveries.co.za
