E-hailing services to go offline for three days

Residents in the Western Cape who use e-hailing services (Bolt, Uber, inDrive) will have to make use of alternative transport as drivers of the services are expected to go offline from Tuesday.

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The Western Cape's E-hailing Association (WCEA) announced that it will go offline for three days, against what it says, the current spate of  violent crimes against drivers and the deepening levels of exploitation of e-hailing driver/operators in the Western Cape, amongst others.

WCEA Secretariat, Siyabonga Hlabisa, claims that little has been done by authorities in arresting and prosecuting those behind the attacks of e-hailing drivers.

''In addition, our various meetings with app companies to address the concerns/grievances of our driver members have produced very little results. Coupled with this worrying trend, app companies continue to have the upper hand in exploiting drivers through their unfair competing methods and exploitative business models. The apparent slow pace of government in regulating the industry and its reluctance in taking a clear stand against unfair competition is further adding to the dire situation faced by operators in the industry.''

Hlabisa said a meeting was held by its Extended Executive Committee on 31 October 2023, and it was there decided that a stay away will commence on Tuesday, 14 November, and services are set to resume on Friday, 17 November 2023.

This is not the first time the e-hailing services embarked on a strike. In 2022, the WCEA embarked on a two-day strike demanding changes made to drivers' working conditions. In 2021, e-hailing drivers protested over salary issues, saying fare prices had dropped, but their percentage cut had remained the same, resulting in lower earnings

The WCEA has made a list of demands, and these include: 

·        End to unilateral & unfair deactivations/dismissal of drivers

·        Reviewing all new app features, including Trip radar

·        Drop in commission by APP companies to 15% and improved pricing structures

·        Compensation for injury on duties and improved safety for drivers & screening of riders

·        Death/Funeral benefits  

 

Done By: Mitchum George