Competition Commission won’t prosecute Uber

THE COMPETITION Commission has decided not to prosecute Uber, the technology company that connects passengers with professional drivers, for alleged contraventions of the Competition Act. The SA Meter Taxi Association lodged a complaint with the commission in November last year.

It alleged Uber operated unfairly in that it secured partnerships with multinational companies that gave it unparalleled access to the market.

The association said Uber also misled the public by its notion of job creation for drivers and did not comply with South African public rules and regulations; flooded the market with vehicles because it did not have to comply with licensing and other public transport regulations; and charged prices that were below costs.

Itumeleng Lesofe, a spokesperson for the commission, said yesterday that the commission had taken a view that the alleged conduct did not contravene the Competition Act.

WesBank said yesterday that its partnership with Uber had successfully changed the lives of more than 350 entrepreneurs. WesBank and Uber in November launched a partnership that offered existing driver partners access to a specially designed full maintenance lease programme. – Roy Cokayne