The #CTneedsUber petition circulating around social media sites opposes the Western Cape’s regulatory challenges, and increased impoundments of Uber vehicles which threaten the popular transport system’s existence.
Over 200 Uber vehicles have been impounded in Cape Town this year alone with the official reasoning that Uber driver partners do not have metered taxi licenses. However, Uber officials claim that their attempt to apply for these licences has been a slow and frustrating one, with no clear route of the process to get correctly licensed. After a year of the strong case with the Provincial Regulatory Entity, who are responsible for issuing these permits, and with 800 Uber driver partner applications for the licenses, the provincial authorities in Cape Town are said to make a key decision regarding the matter on Friday 10 July.
But with no operating permits having been issued as of yet and the vague promise of that happening for the Uber drivers, a petition has been drawn up to advance the application process and illustrate the people of Cape Town’s trust in Uber in supplying safe and reliable transport. The intention of the petition is to demonstrate Cape Town’s need for the service to provincial officials threatening the system especially as it is a platform that creates job opportunities for South Africans.The petition aims to reach a total of 5000 signatures and is generating serious online publicity with already about 4000 signatures produced.
The internet company operates on a model whereby it partners with drivers and car-owners rather than employing them directly. Uber then takes a cut of each ride made. However, the Head of Uber South Africa, Alon Lits, has reassured the public that all Uber drivers get a criminal history background check to ensure that the transportation is safe.
If you are a fan of Uber and want to help support the case to get Uber driver partners licensed, then you too can sign the petition and spread the concern on social media sites with the hashtag, ‘#CTneedsUber’.
To sign the petition visit the website: https://action.uber.org/capetown/