Uber, Bolt drivers threaten to disrupt services over unmet demands
Some e-hailing drivers across the country are set to down tools again on Monday to protest against alleged ill-treatment by e-hailing giants, Uber and Bolt.
This will be the second protest this month.
Last week, drivers called on Uber and Bolt management to address their concerns but to no avail.
Spokesperson for e-hailing drivers Vhatuka Mbelengwa says they are prepared to disrupt services until they can find common ground.
“We have national consensus and are in the process of making sure that we can communicate effectively as to where our drivers will gather. Johannesburg drivers will gather, KZN drivers will gather and making sure that we submit all the necessary applications so that our strike is legal and protected.”
Mbelengwa says talks between drivers and management have again failed.
“Bolt and Uber have both respectively made it quite clear that they have no intention of entering any real dialogue so as a result we have committed ourselves to ensuring that it cannot be business as usual for them, they will not have a peaceful day of operations up until drivers’ rights are respected and protected.”
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He further calls for commuters to boycott Uber and Bolt in solidarity with drivers.
“We will ensure that we commit ourselves to seeing this disruption through. We will be calling on society to support us, we’ll be calling on society to no longer use those platforms,” says Mbelengwa.
Later this month the Department of Transport is expected to hold a national taxi lekgotla to discuss industry plans.
E-hailing services will be on the agenda for the first time.
“We intend to implore the department to be more active in support of our cause at the taxi lekgotla but thus far we have been unsuccessful in getting them to provide some sort of mediation or any form of intervention,” Mbelengwa adds.
Listen to Mbelengwa below:
