Uber cabs are no longer available for hire in Ballito and anyone wishing to catch an Uber cab, not just the matrics attending Rage, has been affected.

Tensions continue to grow between Uber cab drivers and members of the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association (DCTA), as incidents of intimidation over the right to transport Rage Festival passengers continue to be reported.

Following allegations of Uber drivers being pulled over, pursued through the streets and threatened by DCTA taxis, Rage Festival organisers and DCTA members met on Sunday afternoon, November 29 in an attempt to settle the disputes.

It was decided at this meeting to remove Uber as a partner of the festival in order to keep the peace, with all Uber cars directed not to transport passengers on the Rage routes allocated to the DCTA.

Since these agreements, however, more Uber drivers have allegedly been targeted, with reports of one driver being threatened at gunpoint by taxi security just hours after the meeting on Sunday night.

Ballito resident and regular user of Uber, Debbie Labuschagne said she battled to arrange a cab for her son on Tuesday morning, December 1.

When the driver arrived late, he apologised and said that he was the only Uber driver left in the area after the incident on Sunday night.

“This is unacceptable and we have children not in matric who need to get to places and husbands who need Uber to get to the airport for business trips. They [the taxis] are like the mafia,” said Labuschagne, who was outraged that the intimidation was being allowed to continue.

One Uber driver, who asked to remain anonymous, said the reason clients have had difficulty booking Uber cabs is because Uber had requested their drivers to shutdown the Ballito routes for their own safety.

Until further notice, people will not be able to hire an Uber cab anywhere between Ballito’s Lifestyle Shopping Centre and beach front, including all residential roads in the town.

Those requesting cabs from inside estates such as Zimbali, Simbithi and Seaward, however, should be unaffected as public taxis do not enter gated communities.

Uber spokesperson, Samantha Allenberg said the international private cab company is working with all relevant stakeholders in Durban and KZN to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency.

“The intimidation and threats of violence from the primary transport providers of the Rage Festival only underlines why people are increasingly choosing safe, reliable alternatives like Uber”, said Allenberg.

She said the threats and intimidation of those choosing to use the Uber platform were unacceptable.

“We call on the Rage organisers to bring their suppliers to task or secure police intervention to help ensure everyone can enjoy a safe, affordable, hassle-free time travelling, however they choose to get around Durban.”

Allenberg said Uber would notify the public when the ‘blockade’ on Ballito’s Uber services had been lifted.

KZN provincial police spokesperson Lt Ngoma said that while they are aware of the incidents, none have been reported to them and they cannot comment at this time.

Video

The contention between taxis and Uber drivers has not been restricted to Ballito. A video reportedly showing ‘Rage Rides’ taxi drivers assaulting an Uber driver on Durban’s Stamford Hill Road last weekend, was published by News24 earlier today:

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