The recent killing of an e-hailing driver in Soweto has left many Bolt drivers fearing for their safety and livelihoods, with some being forced to return their vehicles and quit the business altogether.
Bolt Drivers Fleeing the Industry
One former driver, who identified himself only as Carel Pieterse, said he had no choice but to walk away after four years on the road. He explained that business has plummeted since the attack earlier this month, when an e-hailing driver was murdered and his car torched allegedly by rival taxi operators.
“It’s no longer safe for us or our passengers. Drivers are losing everything our cars, our income, and even our lives,” Pieterse said.
Having financed his car through the bank, Pieterse was eventually forced to return it after the sharp decline in demand. He added that he knows several other drivers who are facing the same fate.
A Struggle to Survive
Pieterse, who first joined Bolt in 2019 when it was still known as Taxify, recalled being robbed on his very first day. Although he later gave the platform another chance in 2021 and initially made decent money, conditions soon worsened.
“Back then most of us were using sedans, but now hatchbacks dominate because of the economy options. You can drive the whole day and barely get jobs. Maybe one out of 29 trips comes your way. Families are starving,” he explained.
He said that despite drivers submitting two memorandums to Bolt with grievances over safety and working conditions, there has been little to no response.
Calls to End Violence
Civil society organisations have also raised the alarm. Not In My Name international secretary-general, Themba Masango, condemned the intimidation and killings:
“This coercion must end immediately. Fear, threats or murder is terrorism, not competition.”
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi stressed that while the minibus taxi industry remains central to South Africa’s transport economy, it must embrace fair competition to ensure service excellence.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy added that new regulations under the National Land Transport Amendment Act are set to bring much-needed changes. The law will regulate e-hailing services more effectively, removing the requirement for drivers to use charter permits or traditional meter taxi licences.
For Pieterse and many like him, however, these changes may be too little, too late. “I worked hard for four years, but now the business is dead. We are left with nothing,” he said.
Related article: Gauteng Set to Launch Its Own E-Hailing Service
