Afrika Ndlovu

 The Chesterville/Westville taxi association has banned e-hailing services, specifically Uber, Bolt (Taxify) and Taxi live in the Chesterville area.

In a statement the association shared that the only e-hailing service allowed in the area is YO! Taxi. The association further shared that even lift clubs/ staff transport in the area.

Khanyisile Gwala, a resident in Chesterville who works night shift at a call centre in Umhlanga and travels by staff transport said the association is very inconsiderate.

“We as female cannot be walking through town in the wee hours of the morning to the taxi rank. It is very unsafe and the only safety I can guarantee myself is with staff transport that drops me off at my door step,” said Gwala.

“Ubers and Bolt charge our customers a lot of money and we only make that amount of money with one load. So, to be fair, lets close Ubers so they can take taxis and we all benefit. They can take Ubers once they jump off the taxi,” shared Mpendulo Mlaba, a taxi driver from Chesterville.

E-hailing services have faced a lot of backlash from taxi drivers and association since they became mainstream in South Africa. In other parts of the country cars have been burnt and drivers assaulted.

Nobody was available for comment from both South African National Taxi Council and Uber for comment by the time JournalismIziko went for deadline.

Picture: northeglennews.co.za