Carlo Petersen
UBER, the cellphone application-based taxi company, has slated the city after 33 of its drivers’ vehicles were impounded for operating without public transport permits.
The transport service said yesterday it had been engaging with the city for months to establish licensing terms.
The city’s executive director for safety and security, Richard Bosman, confirmed the Uber taxis were impounded at the weekend for “not having the required authority to operate”.
Uber spokesman Alon Lits said it was disturbing that he city had impounded their drivers’ vehicles while talks were still taking place.
“Uber is really just a platform which uses the latest technology. The drivers are not employed by us, they are entrepreneurs. There’s still lots of ambiguities which need to be cleared up, and we have been engaging with the city, which is why it’s disturbing that they have now impounded these vehicles,” he said.
He added that to use the Uber platform, all drivers needed to have a valid PDP, operator’s card, roadworthy certificate and be commercially insured.
“We have also built in our own secondary background check as part of the application process, in addition to the background check completed as part of the PDP. This means we go above and beyond the legal requirements.”
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said the city had been aggressively petitioned to ensure that the relevant legislation in relation to Uber taxis and all other public transport was enforced.
“Uber is not being targeted,” he said. “We have impounded 4 000 (illegal operators) in 16 months across the city.”
Mayco member for transport Brett Herron added: “Every vehicle that operates a public transport service must have a public transport operating licence; this includes those vehicles that operate using the Uber hailing service.
“We are supportive of the use of innovation and technology such as electronic hailing (e-hailing) for public transport, but in order to ensure the safety of our commuters, all operators must be licensed to provide public transport services.”
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Metered Taxi Council has expressed concern about Uber’s operations.
“It is worrying and a slap in the face for us because we have to go through all the right procedures to operate legally, yet here we have Uber which is going about their business illegally.
“We welcome the competition and accept that the industry is evolving, as it’s always been, but we just ask that things be done within the framework of the law,” said a council executive member, Ayub Baker.