Cape Town - The Western Cape E-Hailing Association (WCEA) has apologised in advance for the inconvenience that may cause during their series of monthly protests.
They said the scheduled demonstrations will take place from August through to December.
Secretary-general Omar Parker said these protests are being organised in response to ongoing grievances with e-hailing platforms operating in South Africa, including but not limited to Uber, Bolt and Indrive.
This morning, the plan is for the drivers to be offline, with the next dates being September 17, October 22, November 19 and December 24.
“On these dates, e-hailing services across the Western Cape may experience significant disruptions as drivers unite in protest. We urge all riders to make alternative transportation arrangements on these days and we call on all our members and supporters to conduct themselves in a disciplined manner in carrying out the planned protest actions and demonstrations.
“WCEA understands the inconvenience this may cause the public and apologies in advance. However, we believe that these actions are necessary to bring attention to the critical issues affecting drivers and operators.”
Parker said some of the grievances include unfair deactivation of drivers’ accounts, as many drivers have been deactivated without just cause, leaving them without income and recourse.
They also oppose vehicle age limit, which is Uber’s policy on a three-year vehicle age limit.
“Despite South Africa’s advanced and progressive Constitutional and labour laws, we find ourselves in a troubling situation where app-based companies are allowed to act with impunity against gig workers, particularly e-hailing drivers and operators.
“These companies have been granted a free ride to exploit and mistreat those who rely on their platforms for income whilst they continue to generate super profits.
“This practice not only violates basic principles of fairness but also undermines the spirit of South Africa's legal framework, which is designed to protect the rights and dignity of workers and all citizens.
“Too often, e-hailing drivers and other gig workers find themselves subjected to unfair treatment, including unjust deactivations, exploitative pay structures, wage discrimination and inadequate protection of their personal data.
“These practices not only undermine the livelihoods of those who rely on these platforms but also erode trust in the digital economy.”
The concerned e-hailing operators did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za