E-Hailing drivers threaten a national strike over exploitative condition

image: Ground-up

by Kelebogile Matlou

The National E-Hailing Federation of South Africa (Nefsa) has announced that e-hailing drivers across the country are preparing for a national strike, citing worsening working conditions and what they describe as unfair treatment by ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt.

In a statement, Nefsa President Elijah Uhuru Lekgowane warned commuters to begin making alternative transport arrangements, as the strike is said to be imminent. Drivers are calling for an immediate restructuring of the pricing index, an end to what they say are unjust driver deactivations, and the suspension of vehicle phase-out policies that force drivers to replace cars that are still being paid off.

Lekgowane explained the mounting frustration among drivers, highlighting a significant drop in earnings over the past decade. “The reason we are talking about a national shutdown is because of a 35% drop on fares since 2016 to now. We are talking about the deactivation of our drivers from the platform without due process being undertaken. We are talking about the phasing out of our vehicles that are five years old, despite the fact that those vehicles are still under installment payments,” he said.

The federation maintains that unless immediate reforms are introduced, the strike will go ahead, potentially disrupting transport services for thousands of South Africans who rely on e-hailing platforms daily.