Special Report: Uber and Bolt drivers want protection and the domestic investment into the industry

In this edition, we’re putting a Spotlight on the ongoing e-hailing strike, involving Bolt and Uber drivers in SA.

As part of growing global pressure against the gig economy, hundreds of drivers for ride-hailing platforms Uber and Bolt took to the streets of SA cities on this week to protest against working conditions and to demand regulation of the industry.

Our host, Mudiwa Gavaza, speaks to a spokesperson for the drivers, Vhatuka Mbelengwa.

Mbelengwa says the drivers want protection “for the domestic investment into this industry. We’ve seen billions running through but drivers are getting more poor. We’re struggling to understand how a business can have such high volumes of money flowing through it but drivers are just getting poorer. There’s something wrong from a managerial perspective.”

He also outlines what drivers are looking for from this strike action, how engagements with both Uber and Bolt have progressed over time, why they have decided to focus on Bolt specifically, as well as passenger and driver safety concern