MDS Collivery tracking

What is MDS Collivery?

MDS Collivery Pty Ltd is a South African express courier company operating under the Collivery brand and positioning itself as a web-based logistics provider with a door-to-door collection and delivery network covering the entire country. Founded in 1991 in Johannesburg, the company began as an intra-city messenger service focused on same-day delivery within the metropolitan area and grew rapidly to become the largest same-day delivery provider in South Africa, building operational relationships with major multinational corporations active in the country at the time.

The company's development followed a clear progression from local messenger operation to national carrier to fully digital logistics platform. In its earlier years, MDS concentrated on Johannesburg-based deliveries before progressively establishing hubs and branches in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, and Pretoria. The creation of its online booking and management platform marked the company's transition into a digitally managed logistics operation, allowing customers to book shipments, obtain quotes, and track parcels entirely online without requiring telephone interaction with a call center. The MDS Group today consists of four distinct companies operating under a shared corporate structure.

• Legal name: MDS Collivery (Pty) Ltd
• Trading name / platform: Collivery.net
• Founded: 1991, initially as an intra-city courier service based in Johannesburg
• Headquarters: Selby, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
• Group structure: The MDS Group consists of 4 companies
• National hubs: 18 hubs across South Africa
• Fleet: Over 200 vehicles
• Monthly volume: Over 60,000 parcels delivered per month
• Partner network: Over 1,000 agents and partners nationwide
• Notable partnership: Preferred courier partner for Takealot, South Africa's largest e-commerce marketplace

MDS Collivery's position in the South African logistics market is built on the combination of a physical delivery network and a technology-driven booking system. The company offers direct integrations with major e-commerce platforms including Shopify and WooCommerce, allowing online retailers to connect their stores to MDS Collivery's system for automated shipment booking and parcel tracking. Its role as the preferred courier partner for Takealot is a significant indicator of operational reliability, as it reflects the company's capacity to handle high-volume parcel delivery for one of the country's largest retail operations.

Which countries does MDS Collivery deliver to?

MDS Collivery's primary operational territory is South Africa, where the company runs a nationwide delivery network structured around 18 hub locations. The main hubs are positioned in South Africa's principal economic centers, with the company's headquarters and primary operations based in Johannesburg in the Gauteng province. From this central point, the network extends to Cape Town in the Western Cape, Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, Port Elizabeth and East London in the Eastern Cape, and Pretoria, also in Gauteng. This hub configuration supports efficient inter-city parcel routing and underpins the next-day delivery guarantees offered between most major urban centers.

Coverage beyond these primary hubs is provided through a partner network of over 1,000 agents operating in secondary cities, smaller towns, and semi-rural areas throughout all nine South African provinces. This agent network extends the company's door-to-door delivery capability into areas that fall outside the direct operational footprint of its own depots, allowing MDS Collivery to advertise nationwide coverage even in locations without a direct company presence. Deliveries to more remote areas may require additional transit time beyond the standard windows that apply between major cities.

• Primary territory: South Africa, with coverage across all nine provinces
• Gauteng: Johannesburg, Pretoria, and surrounding metropolitan areas
• Western Cape: Cape Town and surrounding areas
• KwaZulu-Natal: Durban and surrounding areas
• Eastern Cape: Port Elizabeth and East London
• Secondary coverage: All South African provinces through a network of over 1,000 partner agents
• International: Worldwide destinations through MDS Collivery's international partner network, with standard delivery in 3 to 7 business days

For international shipments, MDS Collivery operates through established partnerships with logistics providers outside South Africa rather than through its own international infrastructure. The company has positioned itself as a logistics enabler for South African e-commerce businesses seeking to ship goods to international customers, offering cross-border delivery capability to global destinations. Transit times for international shipments depend on the destination country and the customs clearance process applicable in each territory, with standard delivery windows of 3 to 7 business days quoted for typical international destinations.

What are the MDS Collivery services and delivery times?

MDS Collivery structures its domestic service offering around four main delivery tiers, each designed to match a specific combination of speed and cost requirements. The fastest domestic option is Same Day Express, which provides collection and delivery within the same business day. For this service to be completed within the same day, parcels destined for addresses within major metropolitan centers must be collected at least 5 hours before the end of the business day, while deliveries to areas outside major centers require collection at least 8 hours before the business day closes. Same Day Express deliveries are carried out using motorcycle couriers, light delivery vehicles, or trucks depending on parcel size and the type of address being served.

The Next Day Express service guarantees delivery by 11:00 on the morning following the collection day when shipping between major South African cities. This is the company's principal overnight express tier and is widely used for urgent business documents and time-sensitive parcels where recipients need to have the shipment in hand before midday on the following working day. For shipments that are larger or heavier and where overnight speed is not a priority, Road Freight Express delivers within 24 to 48 hours to major centers. Road Freight Economy delivers within 48 to 72 hours at the lowest domestic rate. Deliveries to secondary towns and remote areas may require additional time beyond these standard windows.

• Same Day Express: Collection and delivery within the same business day, subject to cutoff times of 5 hours before end of day for local deliveries and 8 hours for areas outside major centers
• Next Day Express: Delivery guaranteed by 11:00 on the following business day between major centers
• Road Freight Express: 24 to 48 hours to major centers, recommended for parcels between 5 kg and 10 kg
• Road Freight Economy: 48 to 72 hours to major centers, suitable for non-urgent or bulk business shipments
• International Delivery: 3 to 7 business days depending on destination country and customs clearance requirements

Beyond its core delivery tiers, MDS Collivery offers a range of additional services for clients with specific operational requirements. Recurring collivery scheduling allows businesses to set up repeating collection and delivery routes at customizable frequencies and time windows, which is useful for companies with regular dispatch cycles. The company also provides freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution, driver and vehicle outsourcing to client businesses, and customs clearance assistance for international shipments. RICA-compliant and FICA-compliant delivery is offered for regulated goods such as SIM cards and financial products that require identity-verified handover at the point of delivery, as required by South African telecommunications and financial services legislation.

What are the MDS Collivery rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

MDS Collivery applies a dynamic pricing model that calculates the cost of each shipment based on several combined variables. The primary factors are parcel weight, parcel dimensions entered in centimeters, the delivery address type, the selected service tier, and the distance between the collection and delivery addresses. Customers can obtain an instant quote at any time by entering these details into the online quote tool without needing to create an account first. No fixed rate card is published, as the quoted price varies with each combination of these inputs.

Each service tier carries a base weight threshold beyond which surcharges begin to apply. Same Day Express and Next Day Express both use a base weight limit of 2 kg. Road Freight Express raises this threshold to 5 kg before surcharges apply, while Road Freight Economy sets the base limit at 10 kg. Parcel dimensions are entered as length, width, and height in centimeters, and the system calculates volumetric weight where applicable, applying whichever is greater between actual and volumetric weight for pricing purposes. Parcels can be booked as envelopes, standard packages, or tender documents, and clients with regular shipments of identical dimensions can use predefined parcel templates to accelerate the booking process.

• Pricing model: Dynamic rates calculated per shipment based on weight, dimensions, address type, service tier, and distance
• Same Day Express base weight: 2 kg before surcharges apply
• Next Day Express base weight: 2 kg before surcharges apply
• Road Freight Express base weight: 5 kg before surcharges apply
• Road Freight Economy base weight: 10 kg before surcharges apply
• Dimension input: Length, width, and height in centimeters, with volumetric weight applied where applicable
• Risk cover ceiling: Available as an optional add-on for declared goods values up to approximately $550 (ten thousand South African Rand)

Risk cover can be selected at the time of booking and is not included automatically in the base shipment price. Clients whose shipments involve goods with a higher declared value should be aware that MDS Collivery's maximum liability is capped at this threshold and that the company does not accept responsibility for indirect or consequential financial losses arising from a delayed, lost, or damaged parcel, regardless of the goods value involved.

What are the MDS Collivery delivery options?

MDS Collivery operates exclusively on a door-to-door basis for all domestic and international shipments. Parcels are collected from the sender's physical address by a company courier or partner agent and delivered directly to the recipient's specified address, with no requirement for the sender or recipient to visit a depot or drop-off point. A waybill document is generated for each shipment, identifying the client account, the number and weight of packages, and the instructions for collection and delivery. Signed copies of the waybill serve as proof of handover at both ends of the transaction, and a scanned proof of delivery image is accessible programmatically for clients integrated with the company's API.

For shipments subject to South African telecommunications and financial services regulation, MDS Collivery offers RICA-compliant and FICA-compliant delivery options. Under a RICA-compliant delivery, the listed delivery contact must be personally present at the address to receive and sign for the parcel. The package cannot be handed to another person or left at an unattended address under this arrangement, making it applicable to SIM card deliveries and similar regulated products that require on-the-spot identity verification at the point of receipt.

• Delivery model: Exclusively door-to-door, with collection from and delivery to physical addresses
• Proof of delivery: Signed waybill document, with scanned proof of delivery image available via the company's API
• RICA-compliant delivery: Listed recipient must be present in person at the delivery address, parcel cannot be left with another person or at an unattended address
• Account management: Businesses can authorize multiple staff members to manage shipments under a single client account
• Custom references: Clients can assign custom reference numbers and special delivery instructions at the time of booking

The client account system allows businesses to delegate logistics management to multiple authorized representatives within the same organization, all operating under a single account. Custom reference numbers can be set at booking to allow clients to match shipments against their own internal order management records. Special delivery instructions can also be entered per shipment, providing couriers with additional guidance where a delivery address has particular access requirements or time restrictions that would affect the completion of the delivery attempt.

What should I do if my MDS Collivery parcel is lost or damaged?

MDS Collivery provides risk cover of up to approximately $550, ten thousand South African Rand for goods in its care. This amount represents the company's maximum liability for a lost or damaged shipment, covering the direct replacement cost or declared value of the goods up to this ceiling. The company explicitly states that it is not responsible for indirect or consequential damages, including lost profits or business disruption costs arising from a delayed, lost, or damaged delivery, regardless of the circumstances involved.

Claims for loss or damage must be lodged within 7 days of the loss event by completing the online claim form available through the client interface on the shipment management platform. After this 7-day window closes, the company may decline to consider the claim. A claim may be rejected if MDS Collivery holds an unendorsed proof of delivery for the consignment, meaning a clean delivery confirmation signed by the recipient without dispute noted at the time of handover. Claims may also be affected where goods were not packed in the original manufacturer's packaging or its equivalent at the time of dispatch.

• Maximum liability: Approximately $550 (ten thousand South African Rand) per shipment
• Claim window: Claims must be submitted within 7 days of the loss event
• Claim method: Online claim form submitted through the client shipment management interface
• Grounds for rejection: A clean, unendorsed proof of delivery held by MDS Collivery, or goods not packed in original manufacturer's packaging at time of dispatch
• Excluded damages: Indirect or consequential losses such as lost profits or business disruption costs are not covered
• Customer support telephone: +27 (011) 241-4900 and 0861 637 000

Customers requiring assistance with a claim, a delayed shipment, or a delivery exception can contact MDS Collivery's support team by telephone during business hours. The company also maintains active social media presences on Facebook and Twitter which serve as additional channels for customer communication alongside direct telephone and written support options.

Does MDS Collivery handle international shipments and customs formalities?

MDS Collivery provides international shipping to destinations worldwide through its network of over 1,000 international agents and partners. The company positions itself as a logistics provider for South African businesses seeking to reach international customers, with cross-border e-commerce from South Africa being a specific focus area. Standard international delivery takes 3 to 7 business days depending on the destination country, with actual transit times shaped by the customs clearance procedures applicable in each territory.

Regarding customs formalities, MDS Collivery's terms and conditions specify that the company will not be responsible for the fulfillment of customs procedures or the payment of import duties and taxes on international shipments. The company commits to assisting clients with customs-related processes where reasonably possible, but this assistance is provided entirely at the sole risk and responsibility of the client. International shipments are processed on a DDU basis, meaning the recipient in the destination country bears full responsibility for any import duties, taxes, and customs compliance requirements that arise at the border. No standard DDP arrangement is offered.

Certain categories of goods are excluded from MDS Collivery's risk cover regardless of service type, and others are subject to carriage only at the sender's own risk. These exclusions cover items that present regulatory, safety, or valuation challenges in the logistics environment. Clients shipping goods that fall into any excluded category should note that MDS Collivery accepts no liability for loss or damage to such items, regardless of the declared value or the risk cover option selected at the time of booking.

• International coverage: Worldwide destinations through a network of over 1,000 international agents and partners
• Standard international transit: 3 to 7 business days depending on destination and customs clearance timing
• Customs responsibility: Customs formalities and import duties are the responsibility of the client and recipient, not MDS Collivery
• Delivery terms: DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid); no standard DDP arrangement is offered
• Excluded or prohibited items: Money, bullion, credit cards, pre-paid cards, jewelry, watches, precious stones, furs, treasury notes, securities, negotiable instruments, collectible coins, stamps, manuscripts, explosives, livestock, plants, guns, ammunition, hazardous goods, gemstones, works of art, solar panels and solar panel parts, mirrors, framed artwork, antiques, fossils, motor vehicle panels, body parts and windscreens, cellphones, furniture, and drugs

Understanding tracking statuses

When tracking an MDS Collivery parcel online, a series of status updates reflects the shipment's progress through each stage of the delivery network. These statuses are published in real time as the parcel moves from collection through hub processing and onward to final delivery. No account or login is required to access basic tracking, and customers can retrieve the current status of a shipment by entering the waybill number, air waybill number, docket number, or the custom reference number assigned at the time of booking. The system returns information including current location, origin, destination, dispatch date, expected delivery date, and any delay notifications.

The tracking architecture used by MDS Collivery includes 7 main statuses and a total of 33 sub-statuses, providing granular visibility at each stage of the delivery process. Automated email notifications are sent to relevant parties at key tracking milestones, reducing the need for manual status checks for time-sensitive shipments. Minor delays in the publication of status updates may occasionally occur, particularly during peak periods or in areas served by partner agents rather than by direct company couriers.