Uber to boost safety measures in South Africa as accidents rise
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Uber South Africa pledged to increase safety campaigns for food delivery drivers and review the insurance they provide following a recent exposé about the mounting risks faced by drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation exposé, published earlier this month, found a lack of training and safety equipment as rising numbers of mainly migrant drivers take to the roads to earn a living, and poorly advertised and often insufficient insurance cover.
Figures obtained by the Thomson Reuters Foundation showed a 30% jump in road accidents involving food couriers in May and June last year as South Africa eased its lockdown and the numbers of drivers rose.
Uber pledges to boost safety for S Africa drivers as accidents rise reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Food delivery drivers seek better employee rights
17 Apr 2021
Hidden damages: A driver shows x-rays from an accident he was in while driving for Uber. (Kim Harrisberg/Thomson Reuters Foundation)
More than a year after Malawian driver Matthew was hit by a car while delivering food on his motorbike in Pretoria, he lives with a shooting pain in his foot and fears for his life when he hits the road.
His injuries, including a broken toe, left him unable to work for a month, but the company he works for Uber Eats said he did not qualify for compensation as he was in hospital for less than 48 hours.
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JOHANNESBURG/BERLIN, April 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - M ore than a year after Malawian driver Matthew was hit by a car while delivering food on his motorbike in South Africa, he lives with a shooting pain in his foot and fears for his life every time he hits the road.
His injuries, including a broken toe and various cuts, left him unable to work for a month, but the company he was riding for - Uber Eats - told him he did not qualify for compensation as he was in hospital for less than 48 hours.
Drivers and analysts fear the number of logged accidents was the tip of the iceberg as many drivers avoid reporting incidents due to their undocumented status in SA and concern about losing jobs.
“I have seen drivers die on the road, a lot, and so many injured,” said Matthew, who left Malawi four years ago in search of a better life.
He said many drivers do not report accidents because “it is a waste of time”.
CALLS FOR CHANGE
As the number of accidents rises, increasing numbers of drivers are pushing for a formal national union to help couriers fight for better working conditions.