Calls for stricter protocols for the safety of passengers and drivers continue as the e-hailing sector expands.

This was according to gender activist Lisa Vetten, at a panel discussion around e-hailing safety hosted by Uber South Africa on March 23.

“The question of safe transport is extremely important in South Africa. We have so many people that are reliant on so many other forms of transport, they don’t have their own cars, and they need to get from A to Z,” she said.

The roundtable discussion followed concerns around the safety of individuals who utilised e-hailing services across the country.

Vetten noted that transport had remained a prominent factor in research into sexual assault. She added that in a majority of cases, the circumstances in which sexual assault occurred revolved around the fact that women did not have their own vehicles, and they were targeted either on foot or in e-hailing vehicles.

Increased reports on the lack of safety of e-hailing transport have surfaced over the years. This month alone, an e-hailing driver appeared in the Randbug Magistrate’s Court after being accused of raping four women.

The discussion was hosted during a three-day strike by e-hailing drivers who have called on government to better regulate the industry and help improve its employment conditions.

According to Uber’s head of mobility operations for sub-Saharan African Kagiso Khaole, the organisation has always recognised safety as a pillar that it could not compromise on.

“At Uber we really feel that you deserve to feel safe, to look forward to the opportunities that you have ahead, you deserve to feel connected to the people and places that matter the most.”

Khaole noted the organisation had considered the implementation of additional safety measures to help ensure the safety of not only its customers but also its drivers.

This included the launch of a women-only feature, allowing female drivers the option to only service female customers, and female customers the opportunity to only ride with female drivers.

In addition to its driver-vetting process, the organisation was also looking to implement a selfie option, requiring drivers to verify their identity with a selfie on the app at random times.

Vetten added that while the safety measures already implemented were welcomed, history had shown that some drivers continued to find ways around the system.

“This happened in 2016 where reports of a driver, who was previously vetted, persuaded other drivers to let him use their login to impersonate them and pick up and rob women,” she said.

Khaole noted that Uber recognised that the discussion around transport safety required collaboration, which was why it intended to continue to host dialogues and engage with all the stakeholders involved.