Uber, Bolt drivers in South Africa plan four-month strike for better safety measures

South Africa’s e-hailing drivers are gearing up for a series of protests in a bid to address what they describe as “unfair treatment” by leading ride-sharing companies. The Western Cape E-Hailing Association (WCEA), representing drivers for popular platforms like Uber, Bolt, and inDrive, has announced a four-month schedule of protest actions starting today.

The WCEA’s chairperson, Siyabonga Hlabisa, revealed in an interview with CapeTalk that the decision to protest followed numerous ignored pleas to the companies’ management about critical safety and operational concerns. “We’ve raised these issues repeatedly, but our voices have not been heard,” Hlabisa said. “As a last resort, we have decided to go on strike.”

The central issue driving this protest is the safety of e-hailing drivers, who have become frequent targets of violence. “Our drivers face constant threats from criminals and minibus taxi owners, who view them as competitors,” Hlabisa explained. In addition, inadequate user verification processes on these platforms have led to increased cases of robbery, assault, and vehicle theft.

The WCEA is demanding that e-hailing companies implement stringent safety measures, including a move towards cashless transactions and improved verification procedures for both drivers and riders. “Uber is lagging behind in rider verification compared to Bolt and inDrive,” Hlabisa noted. “Bolt and inDrive have introduced face recognition and ID uploads, but Uber has yet to follow suit.”

While companies like Uber and Bolt have introduced emergency reporting features in their apps, these have proven ineffective in protecting drivers. Hlabisa pointed out that many criminals quickly steal the drivers’ phones, which undermines the reporting system’s effectiveness.

Moreover, the WCEA is calling for a blacklist of known “dangerous areas” where drivers are frequently attacked. “We receive four reports daily of assaults or robberies in the Western Cape alone,” Hlabisa said. “Yet, ride requests from these perilous zones continue to pour in, forcing drivers to choose between safety and earning a livelihood.”

The protests will also address another pressing issue: the reinstatement of drivers unfairly deactivated from these platforms. Bolt removed over 6,000 drivers in the first half of 2024 due to safety and compliance breaches, though many claim they were unjustly dismissed. Uber has similarly deactivated some drivers but on a smaller scale. “Drivers are blocked without a fair hearing,” Hlabisa said. “The process is skewed, and the drivers’ side of the story is often ignored.”

Financial concerns are also high on the agenda. The WCEA argues that current fare structures are insufficient, leaving drivers struggling to cover their basic expenses. Hlabisa revealed that some drivers must complete up to 25 trips a day to earn around R400, a significant portion of which goes to the e-hailing companies.

Recent legislative changes, with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the amended National Land Transport Act, might offer some relief. This new law grants the Minister of Transport limited powers to regulate e-hailing fares. “We’re hopeful that this new legislation will lead to fairer pricing,” Hlabisa said. “But for now, drivers are still grappling with inadequate earnings.”

The first protest action begins today, and the WCEA plans to continue these monthly strikes through December, hoping to secure significant improvements for drivers in South Africa’s e-hailing sector.

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