DURBAN - E-HAILING applications will be on a complete shutdown on Wednesday, as drivers of the industry embark on the second day of their three-day national shutdown.
The drivers came out in their numbers on Tuesday on the streets of Durban to protest against unfavourable conditions in the e-hailing sector. The drivers handed over a memorandum of grievances at the Durban City Hall.
According to the provincial secretary of the United National E-Hailing Transport Association, Sandile Mavuso, the protest was aimed at getting the attention of the government.
The drivers say the e-hailing companies that employ them do not take heed of their grievances and they are calling on the government to regulate the industry. The e-hailing companies include Uber, Bolt and DiDi.
The drivers are also demanding improved pricing and payments in light of the increased price of petrol, improved security measures for both the driver and the passenger, and an end to “exploitation by the companies”.
Mavuso said: “When decisions are taken, we should be a part of that process because we are referred to as partners. We don’t like it that they take decisions on our behalf, while we are the ones that bring the vehicles and service them,” he said.
The intended recipients of the memorandum are:
♦ The Presidency – to assent to and sign the 2009 National Land Transport Amendment Bill.
♦ The Department of Trade Industry and Competition – to have mechanisms in place that prohibit unfair business practices.
♦ The minister or MEC at the Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison – to account for the inconsistency in the determination of fares.
Mavuso said they would not back down until they had a resolution from the government.
“We are hoping they will give us solid feedback on our demands within the 14 days allocated to them. However, should we not receive a response within this time frame, we will be forced to hold another demonstration,” said Mavuso.
According to e-Hailing driver Sihle Xulu, it was time that serious measures were taken to regulate the industry.
“We are here to be heard. We are not safe at all in this industry and the profits we are making are as good as non-existent and no one seems to care. So we are saying that the government must take leadership and regulate this industry,” said Xulu.
Mlungisi Ntombela, who works in the mayor’s office, received the memorandum, and said it would be given the due attention.
“We are receiving this memorandum on behalf of all spheres of government and his worship the mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda. From here we will then present the memorandum to the mayor, and go through what needs to be done by us as eThekwini and then make sure that the memorandum is delivered in the Office of the Premier before end of business.”
The e-hailing drivers would tomorrow “seek out” e-hailing drivers who are operating during this period, as they say that continuing to work under these circumstances would be indicative of a disregard of the drivers’ struggles.
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