The KwaZulu-Natal e-hailing Council has embarked on an “apps shutdown” protest over alleged unsafe and unfair working conditions.
The KwaZulu-Natal e-hailing Council has embarked on an “apps shutdown” protest over alleged unsafe and unfair working conditions.
It said drivers who are part of the shutdown will not respond to requests for rides and this would affect e-hailing services in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and other areas in KZN.
Council chairperson Sipho Mabika said their biggest concern was the safety of drivers.
“We have called for the apps to not be used until our grievances are met. We have a problem with our drivers being killed and the perpetrators are not found.
“That is because it is very easy to download an e-hailing app and request a ride. What criminals do is they use burner SIM cards and create fake accounts then use them to request rides with the aim of hijacking the car.”
Mabika reported last week that in Waterloo, an e-hailing driver was killed and his car was set on fire. He added that last weekend, they attended the funeral of yet another driver who had been brutally murdered.
“For enhanced security measures, we propose that the e-hailing apps incorporate identity verification processes.
“Upon downloading the app, passengers should be required to provide their ID numbers.
“Again, when they are requesting a ride, the app should prompt the passenger to undergo a facial scan. This facial recognition feature will facilitate the identification of passengers should anything happen to the driver,” said Mabika.
There has been an increase in the commission drivers must pay, but the ride prices have dropped, he said.
It was also difficult to communicate with the e-hailing service providers because they no longer have offices in the country, he added. Drivers were calling for the return of head offices in different regions.
Mzokhona Ngcobo, a member of the KZN e-hailing Council, said the commission had gone up by a significant amount.
“This high commission issue also affects the passengers because, for example, in a R400 trip, as a driver I would only get about R180 or less and then the rest goes to the service.
“These apps also give ridiculous promotions to passengers for long rides. This is unfair because we have to buy petrol, service our cars and also feed our families.”
Ngcobo said he was disheartened by fellow drivers who are going against the shutdown and continuing to work.
Meanwhile, Airports Company SA (Acsa) said it expected no disruptions to operations at King Shaka International Airport due to the strike action by the e-hailing drivers.
“Contingency plans have been put in place to mitigate any disruptions to airport operations. 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.
Despite the impending strike, other transport options such as Airport Accredited Metered Taxi operators, Airport Shuttles, Car Rentals and Public Transport services will still be available.”
The Mercury
Related Topics: