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E-hailing services in Tshwane came out victorious after the Pretoria high court granted an urgent interdict prohibiting the Tshwane metro police from impounding vehicles due to outstanding operating permits. Afrikaans e-hailing service Wanatu mobilised seven co-applicants including other e-hailing operators such as Uber, Bolt and inDrive to take on the metro police in court. The e-hailing services argued their services and income were at a standstill while the City of Tshwane dealt with a backlog in issuing operating permits. The city cannot punish drivers for a backlog they did not cause. Judith van der Walt, Wanatu CEO The impound led to the newly established Wanatu, launched in October and operating in Pretoria and Centurion, suspending its services from February 5. Wanatu proved to the court it was “impossible” to obtain permits as the department of roads and transport halted the acceptance and processing of permit applications, CEO Judith van der Walt said. “This is a victory for every e-hailing driver in Tshwane. The city cannot punish drivers for a backlog they did not cause. I am relieved and overwhelmed that Wanatu is back on the road,” she said. “Wanatu is committed to complying with all regulations. This is why we are fighting for Wanatu and the rights of the e-hailing drivers who stood with us.” The Tshwane West E-hailing Association, which joined the legal action, said members would resume operating immediately. Its president Wandisile Rala told TimesLIVE they were pleased to get back on the road to earn an income for their families. “I am happy we won the case and we did this, working together, as we had a common enemy. We are about to meet all the members and after that we are opening our apps and will continue operating immediately,” he said. Wanatu will now proceed with a full court application to compel the Gauteng department of roads and transport to process the outstanding permit applications. |
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- Uber exclusively revealed the scale of its operations in South Africa. - It has 1.4 million active riders, and 52 000 drivers across its ride and eats divisions. - Uber said that its gross bookings grew by 18% last year. In a rare data dump, Uber has confirmed the extent of its business in South Africa. It's large, and still growing fast. The US giant, which operates in some 70 countries, has been reticent about releasing specific local information - but this week confirmed that its e-hailing business in SA now had 1.4 million monthly active riders as of the fourth quarter of 2024. Cassie Jaganyi, Uber South Africa's head of communication, told News24 there were 30 million Uber Eats orders made in South Africa in 2024. She said that both segments have been growing substantially. Gross bookings grew 18% year-over-year across rides and eats last year. In addition, Uber had more than 40 000 active drivers a month in the fourth quarter last year. More than 12 000 people delivered Uber Eats in the same time. These are all "monthly active riders", the number of registered drivers on the platform who took rides during the period. If you parked their vehicles bumper to bumper, they would form a 200km-long line. While Uber drivers are treated as independent contractors and not employees by the platform, the fact that there were more than 52 000 active riders across divisions means that the company is one of the most prominent creators of employment opportunities in the country. Here are some ways to put this into perspective: - There are enough Uber drivers in South Africa to fill the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria (capacity 51 762). - There are more Uber drivers in South Africa than the total number of employees at Woolworths (38 623) and Spar (11 191) combined. - One out of every 200 cars in South Africa is an active Uber driver (there are ±8 million registered cars in South Africa). Competitors Uber claims to have an excess of 50% market share in both the e-hailing and food delivery markets, but it faces stiff competition. In terms of rides, Uber's most significant competitor is Bolt. The Estonian group did not respond to a request for its operational data but, in 2023, claimed to have 40 000 driver-partners across 23 cities in South Africa. At the time, Bolt was still operating Bolt Food, its food delivery offering which was closed at the end of 2023. It is not clear if the driver figure also included food delivery drivers. Last year, Bolt announced that it had blocked over 6 000 drivers on the platform to increase safety and compliance. In food delivery, Uber's main competitors are Mr D and Checkers Sixty60, although Checkers' model is very different from the other two brands. Mr D is a strong competitor. The company website claims that there are more than 15 000 delivery drivers on the platform. The company reached profitability for the first time in the 2024 financial year, with a $3-million profit. Checkers Sixty60 has been rapidly growing its delivery service in recent years. In 2024, Checkers owner Shoprite acquired the remaining 50% of Pingo, the delivery service that powers the Sixty60 online system, that it didn't yet own. As of November last year, there were around 7 000 drivers on the platform. Sixty60 has a very different business model from Uber and Mr D, as the company serves Checkers stores rather than a wider array of businesses. SA a 'top market' for Uber In response to a report on a different publication that Uber was "collapsing" in South Africa, Jaganyi wanted to set record straight with News24, and emphasised that South Africa remains a "top market" for Uber. "We see the potential for growth, we see the potential to tap into the needs of South African consumers. There is a heavy lean on investment into South Africa as a market," she said. |
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Provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said five men were convicted by the Musina Regional Court on Monday. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, listed the convicted men as Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios, 42; Chimankpam Prosper Ashame, 53; Dube Lebang David, 40; Chigozie Henry Okoro; and Okeke Peter Richard, 52. “During 2021, the Musina-based Hawks serious organised crime investigation (unit) received a tip-off about suspicious people who were dealing in illicit drugs around Musina. The investigation was launched and the Hawks managed to identify accused, and the address of their operations,” said Mmuroa. The accused men were arrested during a take-down operation conducted by the Musina-based Hawks serious organised crime unit and the Thohoyandou-based tactical response team (TRT) on November 11 2021 at Musina. “The Hawks investigations established that the accused were dealing in crystal meth drugs. The accused applied for bail several times, which was denied,” said Mmuroa. He said the five drug dealers have been in custody from the time they were arrested in 2021 until their conviction and sentencing this week. The court handed down the following sentences: Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios was sentenced to eight years in jail after being convicted for contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. Aloicios was also convicted for contravening the Immigration Act and he was sentenced to an additional two years behind bars. Chimankpam Prosper Ashame was also found guilty on two counts contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Ashame was also convicted for contravention of the Immigration Act and was sentenced to an additional two years imprisonment. Chigozie Henry Okoro was also found guilty of contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment. David Lebang Dube was found guilty on two counts of contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Richard Peter Okeke was guilty on two counts of breaching the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and sentenced to seven years. He was also convicted of contravening the Immigration Act, and sentenced to an additional two years imprisonment. Meanwhile, provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major-General Gopz Govender has welcomed the conviction of the five drug dealers, and their sentencing. |
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The coastal metropolis claimed the top spot ahead of global heavyweights like Bangkok, New York, and London, solidifying its status as a premier destination for both tourists and residents alike. The rankings, which highlight the top 10 cities worldwide, placed Bangkok in second place, followed by New York City in third. The 10 best cities in the world in 2025: 1. Cape Town 🇿🇦 2. Bangkok 🇹🇭 3. New York 🇺🇸 4. Melbourne 🇦🇺 5. London 🇬🇧 6. New Orleans 🇺🇸 7. Mexico City 🇲🇽 8. Porto 🇵🇹 9. Shanghai 🇨🇳 10. Copenhagen 🇩🇰 (TimeOut) Melbourne and London rounded out the top five. Other cities featured in the prestigious list include New Orleans (USA), Mexico City (Mexico), Porto (Portugal), Shanghai (China), and Copenhagen (Denmark). Cape Town’s top ranking comes as no surprise to those familiar with its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and dynamic urban life. Known for its stunning beaches, iconic Table Mountain, and world-class culinary scene, the city has long been a favourite among travellers. Additionally, Cape Town has made significant strides in urban development, sustainability, and tourism infrastructure, further enhancing its global appeal. |
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A Mr D Food rider has spoken out about their experience working for the company, including how much they earn per delivery and the penalties for not working, despite the company's telling them not to reveal any information. After discovering the demanding conditions delivery riders in South Africa endured in their day-to-day jobs, MyBroadband and BusinessTech spoke to numerous riders to better understand their experiences. It immediately became apparent that they were reluctant to do so due to instructions from the companies they worked for. "We are not allowed to speak to journalists," was a typical response. When asked about this, Mr D said that it is "not aware of any general directive instructing drivers not to speak to the media." "As a platform operating in a highly competitive last-mile delivery industry, we maintain strict confidentiality standards." One rider called Carlo, whose name has been changed for anonymity, was willing to speak about his experience working for the Takealot-owned company. Carlo said he has worked for Mr D for two years. It is important to note that delivery drivers in South Africa are not employees but rather independent contractors or gig workers, meaning they do not receive the benefits and protections an employee does. However, they can select how many hours and days a week they are willing to work. This is also the case in the e-hailing industry, allowing many to earn an additional income by working on the side. While he said that the number of days he works per week differs, his workdays remain the same at 12 hours from 8 am until 8 pm. Carlo says he can deliver between 15 and 20 deliveries daily, earning R28 per delivery. This works out to about R420 on a lousy day and R560 on a good one. While this brings in an average of R11,760 per month or just over R40 per hour, significantly more than the national minimum wage of R27.58, it also has to cover Carlo's riding expenses. These include fuel and vehicle maintenance, leaving him with R8,500 at the end of the month. According to Carlos, covering these expenses is the biggest struggle of the job, as Mr D does not subsidise any of it. When asked about this, the platform said that driver expenses are tracked, and payments are adjusted monthly to cater for changes in fuel costs. Carlos also owns his motorbike, so he does not have to pay rent, which many others do, costing roughly R450 per week. Even though one of the benefits of being an independent contractor is choosing when one works, Carlo says that all Mr D riders are required to work at peak time on Friday. He said that riders who are not online during this period face a penalty. However, Carlo did not elaborate on this penalty. Mr Delivery was acquired by the Takelaot Group in 2014 and its food delivery service rebranded to Mr D Food two years later, while its courier business became the Takealot Delivery Team. It would take another eight years before the food delivery platform turned a profit. Naspers, the owner of the Takealot Group, reported that Mr D was profitable for the first time at the end of the 2024 financial year. "Mr D has built a leading two-sided food-delivery marketplace in South Africa by providing superior service and better restaurant selection to customers, as well as an economically attractive channel to increase sales with minimal incremental cost or effort for restaurants," said Naspers. "In addition to the partnership with offline grocer Pick n Pay, Mr D expanded its product categories to include pet food and accessories, gifts and flowers as well as general merchandise, moving to a convenience-delivery model." In addition to speaking to Carlo, MyBroadband and BusinessTech also interviewed Patience, who works for Pick n Pay asap! |