SA Uber, Bolt drivers shut down apps in protest

South African ride-hailing drivers represented by a union called the E-Hailing Partners Council suspended their services today in protest against Uber, Bolt and InDrive.

The implementation of the new in-app feature called Trip Radar and the use of Bajaj cars are among the issues that seem to be the bone of contention.

According to a statement by the E-Hailing Partners Council, which represents Uber and Bolt drivers, the drivers will go to all Uber and Bolt offices and their airport holding areas to demand their grievances be addressed.

This is not the first time e-hailing drivers have protested the introduction of the tiny Bajaj vehicles and the Trip Radar feature.

In September 2023, e-hailing drivers in the South African province of Gauteng held a two-day march against the Bajaj Qute vehicles operating on the Bolt ride-hailing platform.

The Bajaj Qute is a quadricycle with a tank that costs under 200 South African rands ($11) to fill up.

Bolt introduced the Bajaj vehicles as part of its platform in July 2023, much to the dismay of drivers. They argue that Bajaj vehicles are not safe for drivers and passengers, nor other motorists.

The drivers are also protesting the "high and unjustified commissions, and unsustainable prices."

Uber responds

An Uber spokesperson told Connecting Africa via email that the company was aware of a group of e-hailing drivers that plan to protest in Johannesburg on Oct. 16, 2023.

"The Trip Radar feature is aimed at reducing the wait time for riders and drivers, helping them find a ride whenever they need one while offering drivers greater flexibility in choosing trip requests," an Uber spokesperson said.

Trip Radar gives drivers a list of nearby ride requests and with the feature, drivers will be able to pick the trips they want from the list, and if Uber decides it's a good match, it'll give them the job.

"This means more options for drivers, less risk of dead kilometres or idling and shorter waiting times for riders. Should drivers wish to do so, they may choose to ignore Trip Radar requests and still receive individual requests as they did before," the Uber spokesperson said.

Uber added that the feature is available in over 60 countries and is being used by more than 800,000 earners daily.

Bolt told South Africa publication ITWeb that it is constantly looking for ways to increase earning opportunities for drivers and recently introduced a new ride category (Bolt Lite), which is a low-cost vehicle solution that is economically viable for drivers during these tough economic times.

The E-Hailing Partners Council is also demanding 18% commission and a standard rate of R8.50 ($0.45) per kilometer from the e-hailing companies.

African ride-hailing problems

The African ride-hailing industry has gone through many tensions recently, so much so that in July 2023, ride-hailing drivers from Uber, Bolt and inDrive in South Africa suspended their services in protest against poor working conditions, safety concerns and low wages.

In June 2023, ride-hailing drivers were banned from working in the South African township of Soweto's malls to prevent further conflicts between e-hailing drivers and their taxi counterparts.

The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), a union for ride-hailing drivers, meanwhile threatened to embark on a protest because it claimed Uber and Bolt were trying to have its license revoked in April 2023.

Furthermore, in February 2023, the Russian ride-hailing app Yango was suspended in Cameroon for allegedly failing to comply with the West African country's transport regulations.

In Kenya, Uber cut the commission it charges on fares per trip from 25% to 18%, after protest action over high operational costs by drivers in November 2022.

A similar change was adopted in Tanzania, but Uber's 25% commission charge was reinstated in January by the Land and Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA), giving the company a green light to resume operations it had halted in April 2022.

Uber also almost faced a class action lawsuit in South Africa when a group of drivers hoped to claim compensation for things like unpaid overtime and holiday payback in 2021.

Related posts:

*Top image source: Image by Freepik.

— Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa