There's enough room for e-hailing and taxis to coexist

THE rise of e-hailing services is often misrepresented as a threat to the traditional taxi industry. In truth, both sectors are not competitors - they serve the same critical purpose: transporting clients safely, efficiently, and reliably.

- PASIKA PATRICK NYANGIWE

Traditional taxis provide long-established street-hail-based services with fixed ranks, while e-hailing platforms use technology to offer on-demand convenience, cashless payments, and real-time tracking. Together, they enhance transport options for the public.

Yet, the reality on the ground exposes systemic inequalities and intimidation. E-hailing drivers face harassment, coercion, and violence from taxi operators who attempt to monopolise specific areas.

Metro police departments, including TMPD, EMPD, and JMPD, frequently impound e-hailing vehicles, particularly in high-traffic areas such as malls, Gautrain stations, and airports. Drivers often wait over six months for transport permits, even when receipts proving application submission are provided.

This pattern is consistent across provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal (Durban) and the Western Cape (Cape Town).

Strikingly, certain Afrikaans-operated e-hailing companies, such as Wanatu, operate freely without harassment or vehicle impounding, despite lacking permits.