Taxi drivers on strike
NO INCREASE: FARES STAY SAME
Companies have ‘too many drivers’.
Uber and Taxify drivers took to Zoo Lake yesterday to begin a strike organised by the eHailing Association of South Africa, alongside a group calling themselves the General Task Team (GTT).
The drivers of the rival taxi giants joined forces in protest against a range of problems they have with the companies.
Their grievances include the companies’ admission of too many new drivers, their refusal to offer drivers increases in line with the rising fuel price, safety concerns and what they see as the excessive share in their money taken by the companies, which is allegedly at least 25%.
A WhatsApp message circulating among Uber and Taxify drivers on Monday, allegedly written by Vhatuka Mbelengwa, which pleaded with e-hailing drivers not to go online because doing so would put their lives in danger.
Mbelengwa, who claims to be a spokesperson for GTT, said one of the main aims of the strike was to get the two companies to stop accepting new drivers.
The “onboarding” of new drivers had severe consequences for existing drivers, Mbelengwa said.
“We’re looking at an initial spend on a vehicle of R300 000 and we want the maximum return on our investment. The continual adding of new drivers means that to compete, we need to run so many trips that our vehicle depreciates to the point that we can’t get that return.”
Another grievance was the refusal of Uber and Taxify to raise their prices in line with the constantly rising petrol price.
When approached for comment, specifically about allegations that they refuse to adapt prices to rising fuel costs, Uber sent a generic statement, reading in part: “We respect driver-partners as valuable partners with a voice and a choice and we want driver-partners to feel they can talk to us about anything at any time.
“We constantly monitor fares and examine consumer price sensitivities to ensure fares are correctly priced so that riders continue to take trips and drivers have access to more fare paying passengers. If fares were to increase, then riders may take fewer trips which will ultimately lead to lower earnings.” –