Uber and Bolt drivers in the Kwazulu-Natal province of South Africa have shut down their apps to protest various infractions by the app companies. This was disclosed to Technext by the KwaZulu-Natal e-hailing council, an association looking out for the welfare of drivers operating in the province.
According to the Chairperson of the council, Sipho Mabika, the infractions by the app companies include a car age restriction, excessive commissions and promos and safety concerns. The shutdown, which commenced on Monday, will continue until further notice. The shutdown will affect various areas across the province.
“The Council wishes to inform you of an upcoming e-hailing service shutdown in KwaZulu-Natal which will affect the areas of Durban, Pietermaritzburg (PMB), Richards Bay, and Port Shepstone. This shutdown will commence on Monday 16 September 2024 until further notice. This action is being taken in response to several critical issues affecting the livelihood and safety of drivers and vehicle owners who operate on these platforms,” Sipho Mabika said.
The KwaZulu-Natal E-hailing Council was formed by collective leaders from different
associations and geographical organizations who share a common interest of achieving financial and business objectives. This structure seeks to protect and govern E-Hailing operations in the province.
The president said the members have committed to supporting each other in ensuring that the operations of drivers are effective and efficient in all aspects.
KwaZulu-Natal drivers concerns
Drivers in the KwaZulu-Natal region are protesting a plethora of unfair practices and policies by the app companies operating in the province. This includes Uber, Bolt and InDrive. One of them is the matter of vehicle age restriction currently pegged at three years. According to the council, the restriction is unrealistic because it means most drivers will hardly finish paying off their vehicles before they will need to purchase a new one.
Thus, the council is demanding that the age limit only come into effect after the driver has completed paying off the vehicle.
“We demand that the current age limits on vehicles be removed until the vehicles are fully paid off. This will allow drivers to continue operating without the undue financial pressure of having to replace vehicles prematurely,” the president said.
Another concern that the drivers are protesting against is the excessive commissions extracted by the app companies. According to the chairperson of the council, the current commission structure is unsustainable. While the official commission is pegged at 30 per cent, the chairperson said drivers and vehicle owners lose up to 40-50 per cent on some trips.
“This has led to severe financial strain, making it difficult for us to cover basic expenses such as fuel and vehicle maintenance,” the chairperson said.
The KwaZulu-Natal drivers are therefore demanding that the app companies reduce their commission to a uniform fee of 15 per cent to help drivers earn a decent living off driving on their apps.
Similar to the excessive commission is the excessive promotional prices given out to riders by the app companies. These promotions are usually given out to the benefit of the driver albeit to the detriment of the drivers, forcing them to operate at a loss.
“We are requesting the removal of certain promotional offers that lack transparency and negatively impact drivers’ earnings. Some trips are priced at promotional rates that do not fairly compensate the drivers, effectively operating at a loss,” the chairperson said.
The final concern which the drivers wish to see addressed is the matter of safety. Many drivers have been attacked by riders who either rob or even hurt them. Unfortunately, the perpetrators often go scot-free because the app companies are unable to identify them. As such, the drivers are demanding that riders get verified.
“We are calling for all app users to register with a valid ID and undergo face recognition. This applies to both existing customers and new riders, ensuring that the identity of every user is verified, which will greatly enhance the safety of both drivers and passengers,” Sipho said.
Last week, Bolt in Nigeria launched verification for riders on its platform. However, that verification is only optional, which gives a general idea of how mandating riders to verify their identity may not be good for their business. It follows that unless the government makes it law, driver verification might not work well.
See also: Bolt launches optional rider verification in Nigeria, 10 months after initial announcement
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