South African e-hailing drivers take a stand against injustice

Drivers affiliated with the e-Hailing Partners Council (EPCO) in South Africa have joined forces to stage a two-day strike in Gauteng province, commencing on September 19th.

The strike aimed to draw attention to longstanding issues plaguing e-hailing drivers that, despite promises, remain unaddressed by the provincial government.

Melithemba Chris Mnguni, Secretary of EPCO, conveyed the disappointment of drivers who have engaged in discussions with the provincial government in the past, only to witness those discussions lead to empty assurances. He stated that despite previous promises, resolutions pertaining to driver grievances remain elusive.

“In January of this year, we had a meeting with the office of the MEC, but the MEC was absent, rendering resolution impossible. We were assured that resolutions would follow within seven days after the briefing, yet to this day, we have not received any,” Mnguni stated.

The first day of the strike saw EPCO members and e-hailing drivers staging protests outside the office of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi at Peter Rose Park, Johannesburg. On the second day, the focal point of protest shifted to the Uber and Bolt offices located in Sandton.

Key e-hailing issues highlighted by EPCO

According to a report by TopAuto, EPCO highlighted a range of critical issues currently affecting the e-hailing sector in South Africa, including:

Upfront pricing model: Concerns regarding the pricing structure that often leaves drivers with unpredictable income.

Fake roundtable consultations with government: Allegations of insincere engagement between e-hailing companies and government bodies.

Attacks, harassment, and extortion by taxi drivers: Instances of violence and harassment against e-hailing drivers.

Lack of safety due to poor vetting: Safety concerns due to inadequate background checks on users and drivers.

Uber trip radar and Infringement on driver’s rights: Issues related to the Uber Trip Radar system and its impact on driver autonomy.

Confusion over government partnerships: Ambiguity surrounding government partnerships with Uber Eats scooters and Bolt Bajaj Qute cars.

Unfair dismissal of drivers: Claims of unjust termination of drivers and the alleged misuse of Dekra roadworthy inspections.

High commissions and unsustainable prices: High commissions are charged by e-hailing companies, coupled with low fares that drivers struggle to sustain.

In response to these concerns, EPCO is demanding government endorsement of higher industry standards and a commitment from e-hailing companies to adhere to these standards. In addition, they are requesting the establishment of an ad-hoc committee involving stakeholders from the government, taxi, and e-hailing industries. This committee would serve as a platform for open communication and conflict resolution, addressing issues currently lacking an effective channel for resolution.

Mnguni emphasized, “Whenever a platform has an issue with you, they just deactivate you, and you don’t have a right to reply. We are being charged exorbitant commissions, and we want these commissions reduced. The current prices set by the companies do not account for the operational costs we face, resulting in the decline in service quality.”

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