Uber and Bolt drivers in South Africa’s Western Cape are boycotting e-hailing apps starting Tuesday, August 20. This was revealed by the secretary of the Western Cape E-hailing Association (WCEA), Omar Parker, to Technext. According to the secretary, the boycott is a protest against the arbitrary behavior of the app companies, especially the companies’ penchant for deactivating drivers arbitrarily and without good reason.
App companies like Uber and Bolt often deactivate or suspend drivers’ accounts for reasons such as unsafe driving, fraudulent activities, poor customer service, or even customer complaints. The companies argue that these measures are necessary to maintain safety and service standards. Bolt alone has suspended more than 2,000 drivers in the last few months.
However, many drivers in South Africa believe that most of these suspensions are purely punitive in nature and are not intended to be progressive and corrective in any way. They say that the suspensions are sometimes based on false or unverified allegations and that the existing appeals processes are opaque and non-transparent and heavily biased against drivers, leaving them with little or no recourse to appeal their rights. The suspensions also have a devastating impact on drivers who depend on their jobs to support their families.
“We believe that many of the claims used to justify takedowns are either exaggerated or outright false. Often, drivers are not given a fair chance to defend themselves against the allegations and may be taken down without prior warning or adequate explanation. Additionally, many takedowns are based on customer complaints, which may not always be truthful or accurate. A single negative review or complaint can sometimes result in a driver being wrongfully banned.”, said the secretary.
The WCEA accused the companies of bias and discrimination, pointing out that there are cases where drivers believe their accounts have been deactivated for reasons unrelated to their performance, such as ethnicity, language barriers or other discriminatory reasons. These, according to the association, are usually done in a hidden manner and covertly through algorithmic management. The majority of members complaining about such matters are foreign nationals as well as indigenous black South Africans.
The association also condemned the app companies’ appeals processes, stressing that they were neither credible nor fair as they disregarded the rules of natural justice. It pointed out that the South African Constitution guarantees in the Bill of Rights that “everyone has the right to fair labour practices”, but the app companies’ actions clearly undermine this fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution.
“Uber, for example, has a mandatory arbitration clause linked to the onboarding registration process to resolve disputes in case a driver wishes to challenge unfair practices. However, for such dispute resolution to be effective, the driver/operator must settle the matter in a foreign country (Amsterdam, Netherlands), which is highly inconvenient and unreasonable and completely disregards the dispute resolution mechanisms provided for in South African legislation.”, said the secretary of the association.
The association said it is fighting for a more transparent process in which drivers are informed of the reasons for suspension and have the opportunity to appeal with appropriate representation. It also advocates a policy of rehabilitation rather than punishment. Rather than immediate suspension, it therefore advocates a progressive and corrective disciplinary system in which drivers are given warnings, retraining opportunities or other forms of support before such drastic measures are taken.
Uber and Bolt drivers demand reduced commission and removal of age limit for cars
As part of their protest, Uber and Bolt drivers are also demanding better prices and an improvement in driver wages. Currently, the prices set by e-hailing companies vary depending on the region, demand and competition. However, the WCEA said this pricing model means that drivers often earn less than the minimum wage after deducting expenses such as fuel, vehicle maintenance and commissions.
To ensure fair remuneration, drivers are demanding a 20 percent increase in the base price and mileage rates. They believe that this adjustment would help cover rising operating costs and ensure a sustainable income for drivers.
They are also calling for a reduction in the commission rates that the platforms charge. The association says that commissions currently range between 25 and 43 percent. They are calling for a reduction to 15 percent, which they consider more appropriate.
In addition, drivers are demanding the removal of the three-year vehicle age restriction allegedly introduced by Uber. This means that any vehicle used for e-hailing services must be no older than three years from the date of manufacture. This increases the financial burden on drivers as they can hardly afford newer vehicles due to the high cost of purchasing or leasing vehicles that meet this requirement.
The association said the three-year age limit for new drivers creates a significant barrier to entry, particularly for those from lower-income families who may not have the means to buy a new car. This could lead to less diversity and fewer opportunities for people looking to enter the e-hailing industry.
“Many drivers find this regulation unfair and disproportionately favors e-hailing providers. Companies that prefer newer vehicles to maintain a certain brand image rather than taking into account the practical challenges for drivers”, said Mr Parker.
The boycotts would take place on the last Tuesday of every month for the next five months, beginning on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Subsequent boycotts would take place on September 17, 2024, October 22, 2024, November 19, 2024, and December 24, 2024.
See also: 2,000 Naira from VI to Egbeda: Drivers criticise InDrive for ‘ridiculous’ fares
