Carlo Petersen
METERED taxi operators brought traffic in the city centre to a standstill for about an hour yesterday as they marched to protest against Uber cab drivers working without permits and “pirating” in the industry.
As about 300 disgruntled drivers with 25 metered taxi cabs in tow were led through the CBD by the Western Cape Metered Taxi Council (WCMTC), drivers hooted incessantly while marchers were heard chanting “No pirates, no Uber, no pirates, no Uber”.
The protesters then handed a memorandum to Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works deputy director-general Kyle Reinecke at the department’s headquarters in Dorp Street.
The memorandum highlights various concerns in the metered taxi industry, including illegal operators, especially Uber drivers, job creation, zero investment, zero budget and a lack of resources, among other issues.
Reinecke reassured WCMTC chairman Aldino Muller that the department would discuss the council’s grievances. “We will liaise with your executive to meet and find the best way forward,” Reinecke told the marchers.
Muller said: “We are pleased that we will be given a hearing. This is the first time in the history of our council that we have to resort to these kinds of measures, and we will not stop here.
“We have lots of concerns, but our main issue is with Uber and illegal operators, also known as pirating.
“Our drivers are suffering because of this. It’s our bread and butter, but there are many other things we are asking the department to look at.”
WCMTC treasurer Riaan Lukan accused illegal Uber operators of stealing from law-abiding metered taxi operators. “Our guys see these Uber pirates operating without licensing and they are stealing our business. Before drivers would make about eight to 10 trips a day, but since these guys started pirating they are doing two or three.
“Anger is mounting and the pirates need to be policed properly,” he said.
Uber general manager Alon Lits said: “Uber does not own vehicles or employ drivers. We are a technology company that connects riders with drivers.
“What this means is that all cars are privately owned and the drivers work for themselves. Some of our partner drivers own their own cars, others buy cars and then employ drivers. We are continuing to work with the regulators.”
Lits said Uber had created over 2 000 jobs in South Africa since launching here in 2013.