Uber, Bolt, and inDrive operators are going on a multi-day strike in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to protest the pricing system used by the e-hailing companies.
The KZN E-Hailing Council is staging its protest outside King Shaka International Airport in Durban, which starts today (Monday, 16 September) and is expected to last four or five days.
What to be aware of
Although the strike is being held at the airport, the KZN council says that its protest is being directed at South Africa’s major ride-hailing service providers, namely Uber, Bolt, and inDrive.
The drivers’ association is demanding that the companies raise prices while also taking a lower commission, thereby increasing revenue for the operators.
The group published a statement in the lead-up to the strike action claiming that, under the current pricing structure, it is difficult for drivers to make enough money to cover the cost of maintenance, insurance, and stolen vehicle tracking and recovery.
This is not the first time that drivers have voiced these grievances, as e-hailing groups in various provinces have repeatedly called upon their members to strike for better compensation over the last few years.
The Western Cape E-Hailing Association, for example, announced in August that it would embark on protest activities until December, with members boycotting the service for one day every month in response to alleged unfair treatment by the app providers.
In response to these recurring complaints, the Minister of Transport made an amendment to the National Land Transport Act earlier this year, which will give the minister limited powers to adjust the price system of these apps going forward.
However, the Department of Transport has yet to publish any official guidelines for the cost structuring of ride-hailing services.
King Shaka International Airport
One of the other big concerns that drivers have spoken about has to do with safety, as they are a frequent target for South Africa’s criminals.
Thieves will often go after both the operator and their passengers, but there have also been several incidents where hijackers will pose as customers with fake accounts only to rob, assault, or kidnap the drivers when they arrive for pickup.
The issue has become so prevalent that vigilante groups have sprung up in parts of the country with the sole purpose of protecting drivers against widespread violence.
It is also one of the primary reasons as to why operators are complaining about their pay, given that a large chunk of their income is now going towards vehicle tracking and related safety measures.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has stated that it expects no disruptions to its operations at King Shaka while the protest is underway.
“We would like to assure all travellers that contingency plans have been put in place to mitigate any disruptions to airport operations,” said ACSA.
“To ensure a smooth travel experience, passengers are urged to allow for extra travel time. We also recommend use of the online check-in before departure.”
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