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Drivers’ strike: No e-hailing services for the next three days

The e-hailing drivers say it’s tough to make ends meet and are demanding better pay, particularly with the skyrocketing fuel prices

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Those relying on e-hailing services to get around will have to make other arrangements for transport, at least for the next three days. E-hailing drivers have embarked on a national shutdown from Tuesday, 22 March 2022 to Thursday.

 The drivers have a number of grievances with their respective e-hailing providers and are now demanding the government’s intervention. Chief among their complaints is the fact that the sector isn’t regulated, which they say paves the way for them being exploited by the companies.

As part of their planned industrial action, the drivers will hand over a memorandum of demands to the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the Union Buildings.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: ‘An abusive relationship’: E-hailing drivers accuse Uber, Bolt of exploitation

E-HAILING URGED TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

Chairperson of the Private Public Transport Association, Vhatuka Mbelengwa has warned e-hailing commuters that there will be a limited number of vehicles at all available in the sector. Even those who are not actively participating in the strike to go submit the memorandum will be offline at home.

Services affected include Uber, Bolt, InDriver and DiDi.

“I would say that it’s probably best to expect that there will be no e-hailing vehicles available over the next three days and, you know, just so that commuters are not inconvenienced you should probably consider making alternative arrangements as opposed to expecting to find e-hailing vehicles available,” Mbelengwa said on eNCA.

Gauteng Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo has warned that the planned national shutdown will cause chaos on the country’s roads and urged the drivers to rather continue with their negotiations.

“Such approach to handling disputes creates suffering, damage and also road users and motorists get frustrated by protests. We are appealing to e-hailing drivers to return to the mediation process,” he told Jacaranda FM.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: E-hailing drivers plan three-day shutdown of major routes and services