Uber and Bolt drivers threaten nationwide strike in South Africa

Drivers for ride-hailing services operated by Bolt, Uber, and inDrive in South Africa have threatened to suspend service in protest of continued safety concerns and low pay. The strike action was billed to commence from Monday, July 17.

According to the Private Public Transport Association and e-hailing services spokesperson, Vhatuka Mbelengwa, many ride-hailing drivers are expected to switch off their apps. However, he doesn’t expect services to come to a complete halt as there is no strategy for the shutdown. So, customers can still get drivers on Monday and for the rest of the week.

“There is a very large sentiment leaning towards people switching off their apps, but I won’t say that this is an agreed-upon overall strategy by the industry. I will say that it is possible that there will be disruptions. People should exercise vigilance.”

Vhatuka Mbelengwa

“It’s not like this is an overnight strike where it’s registered with a start point and an endpoint. It’s more of a sentiment thing within the industry to say we need to find a different way to fight to make sure that the constraints we have come to an end”, Mbelengwa added.

While the national strike hasn’t gained full momentum, the number of drivers that have already withdrawn their services could significantly decrease the number of available rides and leave many commuters stranded.

Ride-hailing drivers want, among other things, regulation in the industry and for companies to reduce the “extremely high” commissions they charge. Their demands also relate to ongoing safety concerns regarding hijacking, illegal vehicle impoundment, and ride-hailing drivers being targeted by taxi drivers.

“Let’s regulate the industry. Let’s ensure that people are making decent money. Let’s reduce the extremely high commission that Uber is taking away from drivers,” Mbelengwa stated.

Mbelengwa believes there won’t be any form of intimidation from striking drivers towards those who continue to work through the shutdown. However, he pointed out that with many people expected to participate, it is still a possibility.

“It’s a big industry. There are hundreds of thousands of people participating in it, so you can never be too sure what exactly may transpire,” he said. “We may not have full momentum today, but I think people will try their best to get momentum.”

Read also: Uber and Bolt Soweto-Malls ban is due to failure to regulate South Africa’s e-hailing industry

Bolt and Uber drivers make demands for safety

Recall that in June 2023, ride-hailing drivers in South Africa were banned from working in Soweto malls to prevent further conflicts between e-hailing drivers and their taxi counterparts. The Soweto United E-hailing Association, the Soweto Taxi Association, and other stakeholders agreed on this decision after at least three e-hailing drivers were injured and four vehicles were destroyed during the fracas.

Apart from the safety concerns, there were also calls for ride-hailing companies to halt their exploitation of drivers. Soweto United E-hailing Association Chairperson, Thato Ramaila, claims that low commissions exploit drivers, with Uber and other services taking a “ridiculous” 30% cut of the money their drivers make.

In response to the planned national strike and the incessant safety concerns in the past month, an Uber spokesperson mentioned that it is aware of the planned protest and continues to have open discussions with its drivers.

“In the last month, we have been engaging with the Soweto E-hailing Association, Western Cape E-Hailing Council, Metered Taxi Associations and many other structures and government departments,” they said.

“So far, we are forming workable solutions for the benefit of an inclusive ride-sharing industry, whilst upholding the independent status of drivers operating on the App. Driver concerns are important to us and we are constantly taking their feedback into account, by adapting fare policies and rolling out new technology to provide better earning opportunities,” they added.

Takura Malaba, Bolt’s regional manager for East and Southern Africa, asserts that the company is aware of the strike’s possibilities and supports the right of its drivers to demonstrate. He continued by saying that the company frequently collaborates with law enforcement to combat crimes like hijacking and illegal impoundment.

“Bolt has always appealed to drivers to do so legally, peacefully, and without impacting the rights of other drivers who are choosing to continue to operate and earn an income,”

Takura Malaba, Bolt’s regional manager for East and Southern Africa

“Crimes against ride-hailing drivers continue to be a national issue of great concern. The safety of passengers and drivers utilising the Bolt platform is of utmost importance to us,” he added.

Malaba said Bolt also regularly reviews new ways to increase driver earnings, such as incentivising passengers, launching new categories, and boosting marketing to attract more customers.

Due to excessive commissions, which led to lesser income and safety concerns in 2020, Uber and Bolt briefly ceased operations. They said that rising costs and low discounts were reducing their profitability even as the commission they paid to e-hailing businesses grew.

Read also: ‘High prices will discourage passengers’- Bolt Country Manager tells e-hailing drivers