Carlo Petersen
TAXI company Uber, which uses a cellphone application to connect with customers, has come under scrutiny as 13 of its drivers had their vehicles impounded at the weekend.
The service has sparked international controversy, angering local taxi enterprises and raising questions over whether its operations are legal.
Uber spokeswoman Shaden Abdellatif confirmed yesterday that 13 of their drivers’ vehicles had been impounded by the city’s traffic services.
The city’s executive director for safety and security, Richard Bosman, confirmed the vehicles had been impounded. He said some Uber drivers allowed their friends to operate as cab drivers and when traffic officials pulled them off, they could not produce the relevant documentation. He would issue a more detailed statement today.
Abdellatif said: “To use the Uber platform, all drivers need to have a valid PDP, operator’s card, roadworthy certificate and be commercially insured. We have our own secondary background check.
“We go beyond the legal requirements. We have also been working with regulators to speed up all the necessary licensing checks.
“We are taking this latest development very seriously. We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to prove that Uber is helping to shape the future of mobility in a safe way. In the meantime, we will stand by our partner drivers and support them in any way possible.”
After New Year’s celebrations last week, a slew of disgruntled Uber commuters also took to social media to complain about the taxi company’s pricing.
Allison Foat expressed her anger on Facebook, saying she was charged R630 for a trip from Sea Point to Oranjezicht.
“Mostly, I love Uber. Tonight, I’m hating on them! Yes, the surge pricing, but still,” she wrote.
Nicky Rebelo was seething after his son Nicholas, 26, was charged R2 800 for a 35km trip from Clifton to Muizenberg on New Year’s Eve.
“My son was not of sober mind when he accepted the price surge and was therefore not aware of the fact that he was going to have his credit card debited to the tune of R2 800.”
“How can Uber justify ripping off young people who try to be responsible and not drink and drive? It’s outrageous and I’d like to call on fellow South Africans to boycott Uber.”
Toni Larkan, from Durban, also took to Facebook after being charged R1 151 “for a 10-minute trip from Umhlanga to Umdloti (7 to 8km)”.
“Dynamic pricing is communicated repeatedly to a user – and requires confirmation – before the user can request the trip,” Uber said on its website.