Protesting e-hailing drivers say policy, rate changes have hit their pockets hard
The group demonstrated outside Uber offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, aggrieved by policy changes that have resulted in deductions of up to 50% from the funds they make on each of their trips.
E-hailing drivers protested outside Uber's offices in Parktown, Johannesburg on 15 July 2025. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Protesting e-hailing drivers have complained that policy and rate changes made by service providers have hit their pockets the hardest.
The group demonstrated outside Uber offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, aggrieved by policy changes that have resulted in deductions of up to 50% from the funds they make on each of their trips.
Uber driver, Florence Mokgwale, said that she now made ten times less than what she used to when she started ten years ago.
The drivers returned to demonstrate after handing over a memorandum on Wednesday, and were promised a response by the close of business, which did not happen.
The memorandum of demands said drivers wanted e-hailing companies to reduce commission to below 20%.
They want the clients to be charged R8 per kilometre and for waiting time to be 60 cents per minute.
They also asked for amnesty for the impounding of cars, which costs a lot to get back.
Mokgwale added that she was not able to make ends meet.
"In a month, at the beginning, you probably get R40,000 to R50,000, that’s the profit that comes to you, and now it’s less, you can’t even pay rent, it’s not even R3,000, it’s minus."
The group consisted of drivers from Uber, Bolt and InDrive, who want better pay.