Drivers in the Western Cape region of South Africa plan to march to their provincial legislature in protest against unfair practices by e-hailing companies like Uber and Bolt. This was disclosed to Technext by the Secretary of the Western Cape E-hailing Association (WCEA), Omar Parker.
According to the secretary, the march which will take place on Tuesday, September 17, is to demand that the government regulate the industry to end a reign of subjugation and highhandedness meted on drivers by the app companies.
The planned protest is in continuation of its resolution to boycott the apps and take specific actions every pen ultimate Tuesday of every month till December 2024.
“We are protesting against a lack of government intervention to end basic human rights violations by app companies for over 10 years. We demand the government to regulate the industry and end the abuse now,” the WCEA secretary said.
He explained that the protest would begin with a procession from a designated point to the provincial legislature building. While there, the drivers will deliver speeches. They will also present a memorandum to the Minister of the Executive Council (MEC) in charge of transportation, sign a copy and hold a procession back.
The secretary also added that the drivers will boycott the Uber and Bolt apps through the day.
Drivers’ grievances against Uber/Bolt
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.
For many drivers in South Africa, most of these deactivations are outrightly punitive and in no way intended to be 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 a devastating effect on drivers who depend on the job to sustain 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 secretary also blamed Uber and Bolt 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.
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 also want a reduction in the commission rates of the platforms. The association claims that commissions currently range between 25 – 43 per cent. The drivers are demanding a reduction to 15 per cent, an amount they consider more reasonable.
Furthermore, the drivers are demanding the scrapping of a car age limit of three years as allegedly imposed by Uber. This age limit rule requires that only vehicles that are less than three years old can be used for e-hailing services. 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.
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