Uber Drivers in South Africa Have the Option to Decline Cash Payments
Overview
Uber Technologies Inc. is an American international mobile ride hail company with headquarters in San Francisco, California. The technology allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own cars.
Founded as “Uber Cab” in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garret Camp, the company is now valued at around $50 billion.
In South Africa, the arrival of Uber has created a significant shift in the transport industry. More metered taxi drivers have moved into the Uber market. Many have reported an improvement not only in working conditions but also in salary.
A challenge that has emerged in recent months has been a spate of attacks on Uber drivers by metered taxi drivers as well as by criminals posing as passengers.
Why Uber drivers can decline cash payments
Recent new headlines have been dominated by reports of a number of Uber drivers in Johannesburg who have been attacked by criminals who have used the service (opting to pay in cash) with the intention to rob or attack drivers. This has led to raised concerns for the safety of Uber drivers who accept cash payments. One of the major disadvantages of cash payment request is that they can be difficult to trace.
In response to the robberies and attacks, Uber has implemented a pilot cash indicator feature that allows Uber driver-partners to choose whether they’d like to accept a cash request or not.
Uber South Africa General Manager Jonathan Ayache has commented:
“While some driver-partners have asked for the cash option to be removed, other driver-partners feel the cash option has opened them up to new riders and provides the consumer with more s
This indicator will only appear to driver-partners on cash trips. Should a driver choose to decline the request, the app will immediately alert another driver-partner.
“We are doing everything we can to prioritise the safety of those using the Uber app.”
Uber South Africa has stated that driver-partners will not be penalised for declining cash trips.
