Cape Uber drivers warned: Get legal!

An Uber driver in Shanghai, China. February 13th 2014. Picture: Patrick Wack/Uber

An Uber driver in Shanghai, China. February 13th 2014. Picture: Patrick Wack/Uber

Published Jan 20, 2015

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Cape Town - The city has warned Uber cab drivers to start producing public transport operating licences or face continued legal action after more than 60 of their vehicles were impounded this month.

Mayoral committee member for transport Brett Herron made clear on Monday that Uber partner operators were not above the law. “Vehicles that are picking up passengers through the Uber system need public transport operating licences,” he said. “That’s a requirement of national legislation and applies to any vehicle that provides a transport service.”

Herron and transport MEC Donald Grant met Uber representatives in Johannesburg and discussed the licensing requirements for Uber’s partner operators.

“It must be remembered that Uber is not a taxi operator or a public transport operator,” Herron said. “Uber is an electronic hailing service - it merely allows customers to hail a taxi electronically. As such, Uber itself does not require any public transport operating licences, but for the partner operators - the drivers - the same rules apply to them as for other metered taxis, minibus taxis and bus services.

SHAPING THE FUTURE

While the city was “very supportive” of the Uber innovation, they were compelled to work within the law, he said.

“We will work with Uber and its operators to ensure they make their licence applications,” he said.

Uber spokeswoman Samantha Allenberg said they were continuing to work with the regulators to help shape the future of e-hailing in South Africa.

“We remain committed to working within an innovative framework that will help shape the future of mobility in the safest way possible. In the meantime, we will stand by our partner drivers,” she said.

Tension between metered taxi operators and Uber reached boiling point recently when a confrontation led to the arrest of a metered taxi driver.

Zimbabwean Norman Gunda, 38, was arrested for alleged robbery and intimidation after an incident involving an Uber driver at the Adderley Street taxi rank on 8 January.

Gunda told police an altercation ensued after metered taxi drivers witnessed an Uber driver “pirating” – a term used for drivers operating illegally.

Cape Times

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