South African drivers to boycott Uber and Bolt app to protest malicious blocking, car age limit, others

Uber and Bolt drivers in South Africa’s Western Cape will be boycotting e-hailing apps starting Tuesday, August 20. This was disclosed to Technext by the Secretary of the Western Cape E-hailing Association (WCEA), Omar Parker.

According to the secretary, the boycott is in protest against high-handedness by the app companies, mainly the companies’ penchant to arbitrarily deactivate drivers for no just reason.

App companies like Uber and Bolt, often deactivate or block drivers’ accounts for reasons that include allegations of unsafe driving, fraudulent activity, poor customer service, or even customer complaints. The companies argue that these measures are necessary to maintain safety and service standards. Bolt alone has blocked more than 2,000 drivers in recent months.

However, many drivers in South Africa believe that most of these deactivations are outrightly punitive and in no way intended to be progressive and corrective. They say the deactivations are sometimes based on false or unverified claims and the appeals processes that exist, are opaque, lack transparency and are heavily weighted against the drivers, leaving them with little to no recourse.

According to the drivers, the action also has devastating effects on drivers who depend on the job to maintain their families.

“We believe that many of the claims used to justify deactivations are either exaggerated or completely false. Often, drivers are not given a fair opportunity to defend themselves against the accusations. They might be deactivated without prior warning or adequate explanation. Also, many deactivations are based on customer complaints, which may not always be truthful or accurate. A single negative rating or complaint can sometimes lead to a driver being unfairly blocked,” the secretary said.

The WCEA knocked the companies for their bias and discrimination, noting that there are cases where drivers believe their accounts were deactivated due to factors unrelated to their performance, such as ethnicity, language barriers, or other discriminatory reasons.

These, the association said, are mostly hidden and done under cover through algorithmic management. The majority of members who complain about such matters are foreign nationals as well as local black South Africans.

The association also condemned the appeals processes used by the app companies, insisting that they are not creditable and fair as they do not observe the rules of natural justice.

He pointed out that the South African Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, guarantees that “everyone has the right to fair labour practices”, but the actions of the app companies clearly undermine this fundamental right as enshrined in the constitution.

“Uber for example has a compulsory arbitration provision linked to their on-boarding registration process to determine disputes should a driver wish to challenge any unfair practice, but for such dispute resolution to take effect the driver/operator must deal with it in a foreign county (Amsterdam Netherlands), which is grossly impractical, unreasonable and in complete disregard to the South  African legal dispute resolution mechanisms provided for in terms of SA legislation,” the association’s secretary said.

The association said it is fighting for a more transparent process where drivers are informed of the reasons for deactivation and given a chance to appeal with adequate representation. They are also advocating a policy of rehabilitation over punishment.

Thus, instead of instant deactivation, they are advocating for a progressive and corrective disciplinary system where drivers receive warnings, retraining opportunities, or other forms of support before such drastic measures are taken.

Uber and Bolt Drivers demand reduced commission and removal of car age limit

As part of their protest, Uber and Bolt drivers are also demanding better pricing and improvement in driver earnings.

Currently, the pricing set by e-hailing companies varies depending on the region, demand, and competition. However, the WCEA said this pricing model often leaves drivers earning less than minimum wage after expenses like fuel, vehicle maintenance, and commissions are deducted.

To ensure fair compensation, the drivers are demanding that the base fare and per-kilometer rates be increased by 20 per cent.  They believe this adjustment would help cover rising operational costs and ensure that drivers can earn a sustainable income.

They are also demanding a reduction in the commission rates taken by the platforms. The association claims that commissions currently range between 25 – 43 per cent and they are demanding a reduction to 15 per cent which they consider more reasonable.

Furthermore, the drivers are demanding the scrapping of a car age limit of three years as allegedly imposed by Uber. What this means is that any vehicle used for e-hailing services cannot be older than three years from the date of manufacture. This puts more financial strain on drivers as they struggle to afford newer vehicles due to the high costs associated with purchasing or leasing cars that meet this requirement.

The association said the three-year car age limit creates a significant barrier to entry for new drivers, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds who may not have the resources to purchase new cars. This, they said, can lead to reduced diversity and fewer opportunities for individuals looking to join the e-hailing industry.

“Many drivers feel that this policy is unfair and disproportionately benefits the e-hailing companies, which prioritize newer vehicles to maintain a certain brand image, rather than considering the practical challenges faced by drivers,” Mr Parker said.

The boycotts would take place on every pen ultimate Tuesday of every month over the next five months beginning on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Subsequent boycotts will take place on September 17, 2024, October 22, 2024, November 19, 2024, and December 24, 2024.

See also: N2,000 from VI to Egbeda: Drivers slam InDrive for offering ‘ridiculous’ fares