'No more special treatment for Uber!'

Cape Town 160603 Meter taxi drivers were blocked by Police from protesting agains Uber cab drivers outside the BP at Cape Town airport. Report by Noloyiso Mtembu. Photo by Michael Walker

Cape Town 160603 Meter taxi drivers were blocked by Police from protesting agains Uber cab drivers outside the BP at Cape Town airport. Report by Noloyiso Mtembu. Photo by Michael Walker

Published Jun 6, 2016

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Cape Town - Two of the city’s metered taxi business bosses have entered the fray as the tense stand-off between Uber taxi drivers and drivers of other metered taxi companies over the perceived special treatment Uber drivers receive continues.

Ayub Baker, managing director of the Baker Group, which owns Sport Taxis and Rikkis Taxi Cabs, said the clash between drivers which resulted in a heavy police presence at Cape Town International Airport on Friday would not end as long as the authorities were not applying the law equally.

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“Uber is being allowed to flourish and gives illegal operators a legal platform. Many drivers have signed up with Uber without having the necessary operating licence for their vehicles. It is akin to someone selling liquor without a licence. This has made metered taxi drivers frustrated,” Baker said.

“Government needs to implement better controls to govern how many licences are approved,” he said.

Baker said his business turnover had fallen by as much as 25 percent since Uber’s arrival in South Africa.

“Nobody is making money and that is why people are fighting. We are earning less and that means our drivers are earning less,” Baker said.

The owner of Intercab Taxis, Faiek Abader, said profits were declining in the metered taxi industry. He said his company had kept the same rates for seven years in a bid to retain its clients, but this was proving difficult as operational costs had increased. He said it was important for passengers to note whether a taxi they were using was licensed.

‘Uber is crippling the metered taxi industry.’

Abader’s views were echoed by another taxi operator who preferred to remain anonymous.

“All of us have to go through red tape to get professional drivers permits and vehicle permits,” he said. “Uber operators don’t have to.”

Responding to questions, Uber spokeswoman Samantha Allenberg said drivers underwent rigorous screening, including background and driving history checks before they could join the Uber platform.

“We are committed to the safety of everybody who uses Uber,” she said. “That’s why we are constantly developing new technologies to ensure safety before, during, and after every ride.

“This includes giving riders information about their driver; tracking all trips using GPS from beginning to end; enabling riders to share their expected time of arrival or route; and incorporating feedback from riders and drivers.”

Mayoral committee member for transport Brett Herron said the city agreed to support about 1000 metered taxi operating licences for operators who would use electronic hailing (e-hailing) in February 2015, but only 10 operating licences had been issued

“We are not aware of the number of illegal operators using Uber,” Herron said.

Cape Argus

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