‘Uber came to Africa to abuse Africans’
Uber drivers in South Africa claim they are being exploited by the taxi application company and plan to take it to court, according to Forbes Africa.
As many as 500 drivers have joined the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU), out of a total of approximately 4,000 drivers operating in the country.
Uber’s business model sees the company take 20% for each Uber X trip, and 25% for Uber Black – its premium service.
“They take a quarter of what I make every trip. They’re treating us like rubbish. We are not even involved in the running of the business yet we are the so-called driver-partners,” Joseph Munzvenga, an Uber driver in Cape Town, told Forbes Africa.
“I joined because we didn’t have to deal with cash and admin and they also promised us to be our own boss and get a chance to earn up to R10,000 ($650).We have to work long hours for little income. The cost of living is too much we’re not benefiting anything from Uber. It just came to Africa to abuse Africans,” he said.
“Exploitation is an understatement. When people are desperate they will do anything, when a firm like Uber has you tuned into the channel of desperation you are bound to be exploited. The sad part is most drivers still don’t realise just how much they are being exploited,” said Uber driver, Julian Wenn.
The drivers plan to take Uber to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
“We joined SATAWU because they have resources to help us fight Uber. They [Uber] can dismiss an individual but cannot dismiss an entity,” said Munzvenga.
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