When you think about fast, reliable courier services in South Africa, one name jumps out – The Courier Guy.
But bru, have you ever wondered who the oke behind this billion-rand giant is?
Let’s take a proper look at Stephen Gleisner, the founder of The Courier Guy, and how he hustled his way from riding a motorbike for R20 to running one of Mzansi’s top courier businesses.
Who is Stephen Gleisner?
Stephen Gleisner is a true South African entrepreneur who proves that sometimes, all it takes is one lucky break — and a lot of guts — to change your life.
Born and raised in South Africa, Gleisner isn’t your typical businessman with big degrees and fancy investors. Instead, he started from scratch, doing deliveries on a motorbike when life had pretty much knocked him flat.
In the early 1990s, after doing his national service, Gleisner jumped into the restaurant game, managing franchises like McDonald’s and Pleasure Foods. But the long hours and little satisfaction left him feeling stuck.
Like many of us, he wanted out — so he sold his stuff, bought a bike, and planned a mission to Mozambique to clear his head.
Little did he know, fate had a different route planned for him…
How Stephen Gleisner Started The Courier Guy
Just before heading off to Moz, Gleisner’s cousin asked him for a simple favour: deliver a sample to a printing company in New Doornfontein, Johannesburg, for R20.
Being the good oke he is, Stephen hopped onto his motorbike and made the trip.
At the printers, when he dropped off the package, someone asked him, “Are you the courier guy?” Quick as a flash, he said, “Ja, I’m the courier guy,” not even realising that moment would change his whole life.
Word spread like wildfire.
The printers needed more deliveries.
Their friends needed deliveries.
And before he knew it, Gleisner was too busy to even think about Mozambique.
In 2000, The Courier Guy was officially born.
Building The Courier Guy into a South African Powerhouse
At the start, Stephen was riding solo, literally. One bike, one rider, one mission: deliver on time and build trust.
As the jobs kept rolling in, he hired a few more bikers, and then vans joined the party. Before long, The Courier Guy was a proper operation, expanding across Gauteng and then into the rest of South Africa.
What made Gleisner stand out was that he stayed real. He didn’t overpromise.
He focused on customer service, making sure that packages arrived fast and in one piece — something many bigger courier companies still struggle with today!
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Embracing Tech and Changing the Game
Gleisner isn’t just a laaitie with hustle – he’s a businessman with sharp vision. He saw early on that e-commerce was booming in SA. Instead of chilling, he levelled up.
He introduced innovations like PUDO (Pick Up, Drop Off) smart lockers.
These lockers, planted all over South Africa, allowed customers to pick up and drop off parcels easily without standing in long Post Office queues.
By mid-2021, The Courier Guy had over 1,000 PUDO lockers nationwide.
Thanks to smart moves like that, the company was handling around 12.5 million parcels a year, growing at nearly 40% year-on-year by 2021. In a market as tough as SA, that’s not just impressive — it’s flipping legendary.
The Courier Guy’s Big Recognition
The public noticed. In 2022, The Courier Guy bagged a platinum award in the Daily Sun Readers’ Choice Awards, proving they weren’t just big — they were loved.
In 2024, private equity firm Adenia Partners bought a 100% stake in The Courier Guy.
This shows just how much value Gleisner had built into the business, starting from nothing but a borrowed room and a motorbike.
Today, The Courier Guy is one of the strongest brands in SA logistics, still rolling strong because of Stephen Gleisner’s street-smart, customer-first mindset.
Lessons From Stephen Gleisner’s Entrepreneurial Journey
What can truckers, couriers, and hustlers learn from Stephen Gleisner?
– Start where you are — don’t wait for a perfect time.
– Say yes to opportunity — even a R20 job could flip your whole life.
– Stay customer-focused — your reputation will grow faster than your marketing budget.
– Adapt or die — embrace new technology or risk being left behind.
Gleisner never sat around blaming the economy or waiting for a tender — he hit the streets, made himself useful, and kept growing from there.
Timeline of Stephen Gleisner’s Rise
– 1990s: Works in restaurant industry
– Late 1990s: Quits, buys motorbike
– 2000: Starts The Courier Guy
– 2000–2010: Grows across Gauteng and into other provinces
– 2019–2021: Launches PUDO locker system
– 2022: Wins Platinum Award, Daily Sun Readers’ Choice
– 2024: Adenia Partners acquires The Courier Guy
Stephen Gleisner’s story is proof that with hustle, heart, and a bit of daring, you can literally build an empire from a R20 delivery. Whether you’re a trucker, a small business owner, or just someone with big dreams, remember:
The road to success often starts with just one ride.
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