The planned disruption includes food delivery services like Uber Eats. Private Public Transport Association (PPTA) founder Vhatuka Mbelengwa, who is organising the strike, told eNCA that e-hailing platforms exploit drivers. “We have long expressed that we are not happy with the state of e-hailing in the country. We are not happy with the manner in which app companies are treating us,” Mbelengwa said. “We are not happy with the pricing, we are not happy with the over-saturation of the market, but most importantly, we are not happy with the fact that government has not shown up in defence of its people.”

Mbelengwa said the drivers want the government to be proactive and fast-track industry regulation. “We will picket, we will target critical institutions, we will ask certain individuals with the correct powers why they are not doing what needs to be done,” Mbelengwa stated. On Tuesday, 22 March 2022, PPTA will be lodging its grievances at the Union Buildings and Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition. On Wednesday, they plan to approach the MEC for Transport in Gauteng. The action will culminate in a national shutdown of services on Thursday, 24 March 2022. Mbelengwa said the disgruntled drivers intended to continue disruptions until the government takes tangible and impactful steps towards regulating the industry.

Mbelengwa criticised the Department of Transport and the South African National Taxi Council for remaining silent over drivers’ issues. PPTA wants the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition to clarify the roles and responsibilities of tech platforms like Uber and Bolt. Mbelengwa alleges that the companies have no interest in engaging directly with them. While the platforms call drivers their partners, their decision-making on issues like pricing were not reflective of a partnership, Mbelengwa said. Mbelengwa said it was necessary to act now to lay down the rules for how tech companies operated in South Africa. “Tech disruptions are going to be felt across many industries,” he explained. “If we don’t set a precedent now to say this is how tech should behave in this country, we are all doomed.”