The Gauteng provincial government is preparing to roll out its own e-hailing platform. This move aims to strengthen commuter safety and clamp down on rising crime within the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEC for Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, confirmed that the province is moving forward with plans. These plans are to establish a government-led e-hailing service following violent attacks targeting drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement comes after the tragic killing of 27-year-old e-hailing driver Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase. He was shot and burned at Maponya Mall<\/a> in Soweto last week. His family was left reeling after Uber, the global e-hailing company, stated it had no record of him as one of its drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diale-Tlabela stressed that the new app will place commuter safety at the forefront. It will also root out criminal elements that have plagued the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is now time for a Gauteng-based e-hailing app. Safety and crime have become a huge challenge, especially for young women who fear using unsafe platforms. As government, we have a responsibility to act,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n She noted that while the province is still awaiting a final directive from the national Department of Transport, Gauteng cannot afford to delay. The sector has grown rapidly yet remains largely unregulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSafety at the Core<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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