E-hailing drivers blocked, prices sky rocket amid strike

South Africans have been forced to look for other means to get to their destinations as e-hailing service prices have are higher than the normal price due to the ongoing strike. 

E-hailing drivers have embarked on a national shutdown from Tuesday, 22 March 2022 to Thursday, 24 March 2022. 

WHY ARE E-HAILING DRIVERS STRIKING? 

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.

Chairperson of the Private Public Transport Association, Vhatuka Mbelengwa 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 will submit the memorandum and 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.

South Africans took to social media to share their frustrations. Some have shared how their normally “cheap” trips are costing close to R1000.

WATCH: DRIVERS GETTING BLOCKED IN GAUTENG

An e-hailing driver was allegedly blocked by other drivers in Gauteng.

ALSO READ: Bolt SA: E-hailing service offers discounts to sexual assault victims