E-hailing drivers cease work amid safety and other concerns

E-hailing drivers from various companies recently downed tools in an attempt to push their employers to meet certain demands.

According to some drivers the Boksburg Advertiser spoke to in a park in Jansen Park, they gathered in peaceful protest by not accepting ride requests on October 16 and 17.

Their demands include improved security protection, employers taking 18% per trip instead of 27% and wanting the companies to have offices in every town in Gauteng.

One driver, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said they want the e-hailing companies to prioritise their safety.

“We are being robbed, killed and hijacked. Some areas are very dangerous for us, like Johannesburg, Edenvale, Reiger Park and more.

“We even reject requests from some areas for our safety. This job is not safe because, on the e-hailing apps, the passengers can see our faces as drivers, but we can’t see their faces. That puts our lives in danger.
“It is also unsafe to pick up more than one passenger,” he said.

He said they also struggle to make a living with the percentage the e-hailing companies take from their trips.

“Also, representatives of several taxi associations are preventing us from pick-ups at various malls. We have raised all our issues with the companies, but they have not been addressed.

“They have installed panic buttons in our apps, but when we press this in a life-threatening situation, the e-hailing companies do not respond.

“Drivers in various parts of Gauteng joined this demonstration and refrained from working.”
Condemns violence

Takura Malaba, Bolt’s regional manager: East and Southern Africa, said they are aware of the protest led by e-hailing drivers and respect every driver’s right to protest.

“We have always appealed to drivers to do so legally, peacefully and without infringing on the rights of other drivers choosing to continue to operate and earn an income.

“It unequivocally condemns any violence of any form directed towards e-hailing drivers and passengers because it believes every driver and passenger has the right to use Bolt without the risk of harm, intimidation, fear of death or injury,” expressed Malaba.

Malaba mentioned that any driver intimidating or acting violently toward any driver would be suspended from Bolt.

“We are committed to supporting drivers, and we recently launched a driver engagement centre to enhance driver relations and concerns.

“A Bolt Lite category has also been introduced to increase earning opportunities for drivers by using low-cost vehicle solutions that are economically viable during these hard economic times.

“Crimes against e-hailing drivers continue to be of great concern. We assure drivers that their safety while using the Bolt platform is of utmost importance to us.

“Bolt continues to work with the police to provide all the relevant information required to assist in every case where a driver was targeted, as well as provide the affected driver with all the information needed for trauma counselling with our service provider, Oaksure.”

According to Malaba, Bolt continues to develop safety features and tools that directly address drivers’ safety concerns.

“This includes an in-app integrated SOS emergency button that shares the driver’s details and location with a 24/7 call centre and immediately deploys private security and emergency services through our partnership with the Automobile Association.

“On the app, drivers can see a significant amount of information about passengers before they start a ride, including the passenger’s name, their rating, the number of trips they have completed, whether the trip is paid for in cash or by card, the price for the ride, the pick-up point and the destination,” Malaba added.

He said Bolt drivers are also covered at no cost by Bolt Trip Protection.

“This insurance cover provides for emergency medical expenses, permanent disability, and death caused by an incident while on a Bolt trip,” he concluded.

Boksburg Advertiser was not able to reach Uber for comment.

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