Cape Town - From alleged rape, kidnappings, the theft of customer belongings, illegally selling and renting profiles and now operating without permits. E-hailing drivers have come under scrutiny.
Bolt has been the one making headlines this week and for all the wrong reasons. Now there’ a petition with more than 50 000 signatures in the wake of complaints by users.
The alleged trespasses ranged from drivers pitching and driving away without picking up the customers, drivers assaulting customers and profiles not matching the driver or the vehicle. Bolt was also heavily criticised for not responding to complaints.
Bolt profiles and accounts are advertised and sold via social media, especially on Facebook. Bolt said they have appointed forensic investigators to look into the issue of individuals using social media to rent out profiles.
Sibulele Mpiyakhe said she requested a ride on Tuesday and the car did not match the one on the app.
“I asked him before getting in and he replied by saying ’why does it matter, get in the car’. He sounded so aggressive. I refused and I walked away.”
She said the driver got out of the car and started yelling “get in the car!”
“He took my arm forcefully almost like dragging me to the car but some guy saw what was happening and came towards us. That’s when he let go of my arm and drove off.”
She said she cancelled the ride and deleted the app right away.
Siphokazi Siswana said her friend requested a ride for her from Khayelitsha. “I left my work kits in (the car) and when I called the driver, he declined my calls and now his phone goes straight to voicemail. I sent multiple emails to Bolt but there’s no valid response yet.”
It took two days after the intervention of Independent Media and all the items were returned by the driver. Not every customer is as lucky as Siswana.
Gareth Taylor, Bolt regional manager for SADC, responding regarding slow responses to complaints and other issues raised by customers, said: “If a violent event is reported to us via the app or our email address, we respond swiftly against anyone implicated.
“When a serious allegation is made against a driver, such as sexual assault, Bolt immediately blocks the driver’s account from the platform. We fully support SAPS investigations into what transpired, once we have a case number.”
He said that Bolt prohibits drivers from authorising any other person to use their Bolt driver account in any way whatsoever, including renting profiles to any other person at all. “Any driver found to be renting their profile to any other party, or allowing any unauthorised person to use their profile for any reason, will be removed from the platform permanently.”
According to Bolt, renting a profile to or from someone constitutes an act of fraud.
On the other hand, a number of Uber drivers have admitted to operating on the platform without operating licenses.
Several people complained about the shortage of drivers around big malls like the V& A Waterfront in Cape Town. One driver responded saying many drivers had their cars impounded for not having operating licenses.
“We are no longer issued with permits anymore but we find ways to be on the platform,” said one driver who asked not to be named. “If you were to go to the airport drop-off or the CBD, you will notice that there is a crackdown for drivers without permits. We are always running from the law enforcement.”
The driver said he has colleagues who have been waiting for permits since 2020.
It is illegal to transport commuters without a permit.
Maxine Bezuidenhout, spokesperson for Cape Town City Traffic Service, said there is no crackdown, “just consistent enforcement of all public transport vehicles, including those of operators with Uber as an e-hailing platform provider”.
Mpho Sebelebele, head of communications for Uber South Africa, said drivers using their app have already completed the requisite steps in applying for their operating licenses under the current National Land Transport Act (NLTA).
“However, the process of operating licenses has been delayed as there is a backlog with the City of Cape Town and they continue to enforce impoundments.
“Drivers depend on their vehicles to make a living for themselves and their families, however continue to wait for their licenses to be issued,” said Sebelebele.
She said Uber continued to engage with the City as well as the province about this issue and make available the required information. “We are doing as much as we can to make this process easier for drivers and will continue to support them.”
The City signed a moratorium on new applications for metered-taxi operating licences in February last year that will last 31 December 2023. The City said it became evident that an over-supply of metered taxis was threatening the sustainability of the industry in Cape Town.
City’s Mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas, said they do not issue operating licenses to public transport operators, among which e-hailing operators fall under.
“The Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) is the authority where all operating licence applications are submitted, processed, adjudicated and issued.
“It is of utmost importance to note that public transport does not operate within a free market space but, within the confinements of a regulatory framework as outlined within the National Land Transport Act, Act 5 of 2009,” said Quintas.
He added that the mere fact that a person is registered on an e-hailing platform does not guarantee them an operating license nor does it permit them to operate a public transport service for payment.
“It must also be made very clear that even though the City only agreed to specific numbers, the operators flooded the City with requests for operating licenses which, exponentially exceeded the agreed numbers.
“This created the perception with operators that ’operating licences were applied for’ when in fact, those who submitted over and above the agreed number, became part of which is referred to as an ’interest matrix’”.
Weekend Argus