SA Meter Taxi and E-hailing Association, Gauteng E-hailing Services join hands in bid to formalise & regulate sector

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Meter Taxi and E-hailing Association (SAMTEA), alongside the Gauteng E-hailing Services, have joined hands in an effort to formalise and regulate the sector.

The associations held a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, highlighting that the formalisation of the industry could equally protect operators and customers.

Dozens of operators have been engaged in protest action in the last few weeks over what they have described as exploitative working conditions.

Some operators in the e-hailing industry have taken to the streets in an effort to have several of their issues addressed, including the slashing of fare prices.

During the media briefing, the e-hailing structures emphasised the importance of being a recognised and organised sector that complies with the National Land and Transport Act.

The chairperson of SAMTEA, Sibongiseni Shange, also stressed that the division which existed in the sector between meter taxis and e-hailing was something they were working on.

"As you would know, previously, we were known as enemies. Should I say we were competitors? Because of the disruption of the market, obviously, we would find that other people would have reacted differently. But over time, as we have been engaging and finding each other, over time, we have seen that this not only affected the meter taxis, but it also affected our own drivers."

The associations also mentioned they needed operators to be on board with being formalised for the industry to have more protective measures.