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Johannesburg - The Ministry of Transport met with various industry stakeholders on Wednesday afternoon as the feud between ehailing service Uber and metered taxi owners neared a tipping point, with metered drivers continuing to hit out at the technology company.
Irate metered taxi drivers picketed outside police offices in Midrand where the 12-hour meeting took place, anxiously awaiting the outcome. Oupa Sikhosana, who represents a number of metered taxi organisations and said he ‘wears
different caps’, said drivers want the cab hailing service gone.
“Uber drivers are picking up passengers from our ranks, where they should not be, while (our) drivers make no money,” Sikhosana said.
“Uber takes millions out of South Africa a month, without creating jobs for locals,” he added.
However, Uber South Africa hit back, saying that the company has created thousands of economic opportunities since launching in the country.
Uber South Africa spokesperson Samantha Allenberg told Fin24 that most of the money earned by Uber driver-partners stays in the country.
“Drivers keep 75% of the fare they make during a trip, so this money stays local while Uber is investing heavily in the local economy,” she told Fin24.
Allenberg said Uber offices are open in all cities the app operates in, and that the company has built advanced partner support centres across all major metros, employing a local team in all offices and support centres.
Sikhosana said Uber drivers are operating illegally, while Uber said drivers using its platform are applying for their operating licences as per guidance from the current National Land Transport Act.
The meeting between the metered taxi owners association and the Department of Transport is the latest development in the ongoing dispute between metered drivers and the popular ride-sharing app.
It stemmed from violent attacks on Uber drivers around the country, with one driver succumbing to his injuries recently after his vehicle was set alight outside Loftus Versveld Stadium in Pretoria in June.
Sikhosana said the organisation does not condone violence of any kind.
“There is no leader of any organisation that can condone violence, especially when it involves citizens getting injured,” Sikhosana said.
