Cape Town - Four Uber drivers were arrested after having taken part in an illegal protest in the Cape Town city centre on Tuesday, by causing a traffic blockade.
The Uber drivers were obstructing traffic as they made their way down the Somerset Road from the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point to the CBD, calling for Uber to become more regulated. The drivers were arrested as they did not have a permit for their protest.
Derick Ongansie, a deactivated Uber driver participating in the protest explained that the protest is an awareness campaign.
The drivers are protesting against the conditions they are driving under, and that they aren't earning enough with petrol prices going up. They are also calling for Uber to become regulated, similarly to other transport industries.
Derick Ongansie, a deactivated Uber driver participating in the protest explained that the protest is an awareness campaign. Video: Athina May
Derick Ongansie, a deactivated Uber driver participating in the protest explained that the protest is an awareness campaign. Video: Athina May.
City of Cape Town traffic official Richard Coleman confirmed the incident and arrests:
"At approximately 10h00 this morning Uber drivers blocked the road outside the Traffic Department in Green Point.
"Traffic officers were called to the scene to clear the roadway. On arrival, the Uber driver’s got out there vehicles. On trying to move the vehicles 7 officers were assaulted - 5 males and 2 females had slight injuries. There were 4 Uber drivers arrested for assault, illegal gathering and illegal protesting. 3 vehicles were also impounded for obstructing. The roadway was cleared at 12h20."
However, according to another Uber driver Riaz Mongratie, who represents about 1 000 Uber drivers and who are not participating in the strike, he said that not all drivers endorse the protest.
"There are certain people involved in the current strike, who have been deactivated from Uber, that don't have access. From our side, we have the avenues of communication," said Mongratie.
"I don't endorse or encourage action where a handful of drivers are encouraged to give up their day's earning to do something that actually has no actual direction.
"In terms of the way that Uber works and functions, I believe a much more effective strike is in getting all of the drivers to go offline for a short period of time to get Uber's attention. I don't think that's necessary at this stage because Uber's doors has not been closed to us. Uber has been open to communication with us."
One of the Uber drivers arrested speaks out from the back of the van. Thereafter, Nicholas Morris speaking about how the Uber drivers are planned to be released. Video: Athina May.
The protest comes following Mongratie, and the group of drivers that he represents, having met with the Competitions Commission on Monday. The meeting was orchestrated to discuss the issues that Uber drivers face regarding permits.
Earlier this year the City of Cape Town's Transport Enforcement Unit (TEU) impounded 57 Uber vehicles in the Green Point/Cape Town Central area and issued 84 fines for various offences.
@TheCapeArgus