By Dylan Bettencourt
- Drivers must display their names, business addresses and contacts on both car doors under new National Land Transport Act rules.
- Some say it makes them easy targets for criminals, while others argue it improves safety and accountability for passengers.
E-hailing drivers fear they are being turned into sitting ducks for criminals.
A new law forces Uber and Bolt drivers to print their names, business addresses and contact numbers on both car doors. The rule came into effect last week under the National Land Transport Act.
Drivers warn the move will make them easy to identify and attack. “We are private transport companies. I don’t know what the government wants to achieve,” said Siyabonga Hlabisa, chairperson of the Western Cape E-Hailing Association, News24 reported.
Tensions between taxis and e-hailing drivers are already high. In Durban last month, one driver narrowly escaped being shot and another was beaten.
Hlabisa said the branding rule “just makes it easy for us to be pointed out.”
But not everyone agrees. Vhatuka Mbelengwa, head of the National e-Hailing Federation, said clear identification can improve safety. “In the long run, clearly identifiable public transport providers [are] paramount. It offers more safety for everyone.”
He added, though, that the law does not spell out what duties Uber and Bolt have towards their drivers.
The rules also let municipalities cap the number of drivers per route. Drivers now have 180 days to apply for new permits or face fines of up to R100,000.
Uber declined to comment, but Bolt welcomed the changes, saying it would work with authorities to ensure benefits for riders and drivers.
Pictured above: Bolt.
Image source: Bolt Facebook
