Uber, an online taxi hailing application that enables customers to request for taxi services through their smartphones, has made headlines across the world, both good and bad. Like in many other parts of the world, the San Francisco-based company is making strides with Uber in Africa.
It now operates in nine cities in five countries across Africa and is “looking to bring Uber to as many African cities as possible”.
Uber launched in South Africa in 2012, three years after it was founded by Travis Kalanik and Garrett Camp in the US. It has since spread to Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt and is proving to be a stiff competition to the traditional taxi operators.
Here are 10 things about Uber operations in Sub-Saharan Africa:
Sources; Business Insider, Bloomberg Business, the Guardian
Plans to Employ 15,000 Africans by 2017
Since its entry into the South African market, Uber has become a source of employment for many people. By the end of last year, it had created more than 4,000 jobs. It has targeted 15,000 more job opportunities in Africa by the end of 2017.
Has very strict divers requirements
For one to become an uber driver, they must posses a Professional Driver’s permit, be commercial insurance holders and medically fit with certificate of good conduct from the police. They should also have never had their driving licenses revoke.
It Encourages Female Drivers
Last year, Uber partnered with the United Nations in efforts to increase the number of women partner-drivers in South Africa. They projected a target of 1000,000 jobs by 2020. This is aimed increasing safety for female drivers in the country.
It launched an app for Deaf drivers in Kenya
Kenya Association for the Deaf partnered with Uber to launch the deaf-drive feature, mid last year. This enables deaf people to operate uber taxis. The feature also alerts passengers enabling them to know that their driver is deaf or has hearing difficulties.
It operates in nine African Cities
Uber in Africa has its services spread in nine cities across the continent. These are Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria), Cairo (Egypt) Casablanca (Morocco) and Nairobi (Kenya).
Like in Other Cities Uber Is facing resistance in Africa
The entry of uber into the continent has been met with hostility by the traditional taxi operators. They consider it as an unfair rival who is driving them out of business because of the low customer charges. In Johannesburg, Cape Town and Nairobi, incidents of physical violence against uber operators have been reported, and security agencies have been forced to intervene.
Uber provided extra security to its drivers in South Africa
Last year, Uber partnered with security authorities in Johannesburg and other South African cities to provide security for its drivers. This was due to alleged attacks from their traditional taxi operators. This makes Uber in Africa an even safer proposition.
Ubers low fares has been made it a target
Uber operators low fares for their services. This has been a major cause of the tensions with their counterparts in the traditional taxi sector.
It allows cash and mobile money payment in some African cities
Uber services have adopted cash and even mobile money as an alternative system of payment. Kenya was the first African market to introduce this options to uber customers. It was the second country in the world to adopt cash payment.
Cairo is its fastest growing market
Last year, Cairo was the fastest growing market for Uber in Africa, Middle East and Europe. Since its entry into the city, Uber partnered with different authorities to make their services safe and train its drivers against sexual harassment amongst other market-improvement efforts.