Taxi drivers want end to Uber special treatment

Cape Town - Two of the city’s metered taxi business bosses have entered the fray as the tense stand-off between Uber taxi drivers and drivers of other metered taxi companies over the perceived special treatment Uber drivers receive over licensing continues.

Ayub Baker, the managing director of the Baker Group, which owns Sport Taxis and Rikkis Taxi Cabs, said the clash between drivers which resulted in a heavy police presence at Cape Town International Airport on Friday, would not end as long as the authorities were not applying the law equally.

“Uber is being allowed to flourish and gives illegal operators a legal platform. Many drivers have signed up with Uber without having the necessary operating licence for their vehicles. It is akin to someone selling liquor without a licence. This has made metered taxi drivers frustrated,” Baker said.

“Government needs to implement better controls to govern how many licences are approved,” he said.

Baker said his business turnover had fallen by up to 25 percent since Uber’s arrival in South Africa. “No-one is making money and that is why people are fighting. We are earning less and that means our drivers are earning less,” Baker said.

The owner of Intercab Taxis, Faiek Abader said profits were declining in the metered taxi industry. He said his company had kept the same rates for seven years in a bid to retain its clients, but this was proving difficult as operational costs had increased. He said it was important for passengers to note whether a taxi they were using was licensed.

Abader’s views were echoed by another taxi operator who preferred to remain anonymous. “Uber is crippling the metered taxi industry. All of us have to go through red tape to get professional drivers permits and vehicle permits. Uber operators don’t have to,” the operator said.

Responding to questions, Uber spokeswoman Samantha Allenberg said drivers underwent rigorous screening, including background and driving history checks before they could join the Uber platform. “We are committed to the safety of everyone who uses Uber.

“It’s why we are constantly developing new technologies to ensure safety before, during, and after every ride. This includes giving riders information about their driver; tracking all trips using GPS from beginning to end; enabling riders to share their expected time of arrival or route; and incorporating feedback from riders and drivers,” she said.

The member of the mayoral committee on Transport for Cape Town, Brett Herron, said the city agreed to support about 1 000 metered taxi operating licences for operators who would use electronic hailing (e-hailing) last February, but only 10 operating licences had been issued

“We are not aware of the number of illegal operators using Uber,” Herron said.