Uber drivers on Friday converged outside their company’s offices in Parktown North, Johannesburg, where they demanded answers to a memorandum they handed over three weeks ago – but management had apparently locked the doors and disappeared.
Dressed in T-shirts written “The Movement- #uberdriverssa” drivers demanded a meeting with management to address their concerns, especially safety.
Armed guards with rifles guarded the Uber office. There was no sign of management.
“We are attacked by metered taxi drivers out there … everyday is a challenge on the roads but management would not listen to us,” said a disgruntled driver who did not want to be named.
“They refuse to meet us … they call this a partnership, but it is far from that. We are on the ones on ground and they refuse to listen and resolve our issues.”
Uber drivers formed a forum last year after one of them was attacked and killed their spokeswoman Teresa Munchik said.
“We are all Uber drivers and partners gathered here. We gave them a memorandum three weeks ago, which they never responded to, and they refuse to speak to us,” said Munchik.
“We planned to slow down traffic and block the road, but police have told us they will organise a meeting with Uber … but then Uber has shut down its offices and put armed men at the door.”
Munchik claimed Uber has been collecting names of members of the forum and their vehicle registrations. She said forum members are being deactivated them from the Uber app.
“Our guys are bitten everyday, Uber says there’s protection and security but there’s none … I can take you to Park Station now to see for yourself.
“Drivers have been hijacked especially since the cash option was implemented … people do not go look out for Uber, they can just order a taxi and attack the driver just like that.”
The driver who was murdered had been waiting at the airport when he was attacked. He was hijacked and killed in November last year, Munchik said.
Another driver said he was deactivated “last night without notification”.
“I am also here because I was deactivated from the app without a reason. There was no one answering their telephones when I called last night, now they have a mini army guarding the door. These people only care about the cash we bring in, not the drivers. Someone must come and talk to us,” he said.
The Uber drivers’ action came around the same time as metered taxi drivers were blocking access to the OR Tambo International Airport. As a result of the blockade motorists were stuck for hours along the R21, the surrounding N12 and R24.
Metered taxi operators blocked the roads as part of their protest against rivals, Uber, whom they accuse of unfairly taking away market share because they do not have to register for operating licences.
Metered taxi operators are also demanding that Uber, the ridesharing app service, be stopped from operating in South Africa.
– African News Agency (ANA)
