Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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I don’t catch Uber around Johannesburg much, but when I am in Cape Town and Durban I do tend to use them. I did not realise that the Uber drivers in South Africa did not generally own their cars, as they do in most other countries. In other words, the average Uber driver in South Africa is actually driving for somebody else who owns the car and he pays that driver a salary and then receives the money to his/her own account with Uber. In some ways it is quite a foolproof system and stops the drivers from stealing from owners – something that the taxi industry might like to think about. Of course, most in the taxi industry probably doesn’t want to have a traceable record of the money they are receiving. Tax rates in South Africa might actually be able to stabilise or go down if everybody paid their fair share of tax, but I guess that is not going to happen soon.
In any event, I am told that people are so interested in owning vehicles to be driven by their drivers for Uber, that there is a 6 month waiting period to get a car in South Africa onto the Uber system – I have a friend who is about 3 months into the process and he wants to get an Uber black car, but I was stunned to discover that it is such a big business behind the scenes that the person driving the car is not in fact, in most cases, the actual owner of the car.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 26-May-17
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Comments
Jessica M said:
on Friday 09-Jun-17 09:10 AM
Well I think it is better, it monitors people better and the same as any other normal driver in any place, they don't even have their own cars and such as the rest take public transport. Keeps everyone going I guess.
Nicolle said:
on Monday 05-Jun-17 09:45 AM
I have never Ubered anywhere. I also don't get the "Uber" fuss. Perhaps it is because I can just "Uber" myself anywhere.
Dune said:
on Friday 02-Jun-17 10:40 AM
I prefer using uber when I go to a place that I know will be busy. We also used uber a lot more in Cape Town, especially when we went to Newlands Stadium, you don't have to worry about parking, remembering where you parked or worrying that your car will still be there when you get back. I didn't know that some of the uber drivers didn't own the cars and actually drive for a salary, very interesting.
brumilde said:
on Thursday 01-Jun-17 12:38 PM
geez uber is very expensive. i live in heidelberg so we dont have uber there. you either get on a bike, trike or car or walk where you need to go.
Lourien said:
on Thursday 01-Jun-17 12:30 PM
Uber is a great service and I do think it is safer using Uber, although I still prefer driving myself when going places as its faster and I don't want to rely on someone else and be waiting for them to get me to a destination. I think when you are going out definitely get an Uber as its much safer.
Lucretia said:
on Thursday 01-Jun-17 10:01 AM
I have never used the services of Uber before. Why is there always such red tape in our country. This is the very reason that creating employment is so difficult, because of this red tape. Maybe the government should relax a little and allow businesses to start up and run...........................less unemployed people on the streets.......why cant the government see this????
Helen said:
on Thursday 01-Jun-17 09:29 AM
Telling the truth I have never used UBER before. Knowing that the public transport is so bad here was to scared to jump in someone's else car. Very interesting to read good comments about this company and their services!
Melissa said:
on Wednesday 31-May-17 04:37 PM
It must be convenient to use Uber as transport, I personally won't use Uber, because one never knows who to trust and who not to trust. I prefer driving myself then I know I am in control.
Sinead said:
on Wednesday 31-May-17 11:17 AM
My sister actually bought a car for the Uber purpose. She too had a driver. I don't remember it taking her that long to get the car into the system though. I would have to ask her though.
I don't use Uber much. There is also a "Take Me Home" Service that FNB and MiWay offer. That I also don't trust. With that service: someone is to drive your car home - and I don't trust anyone else driving my car.
Cornelie said:
on Wednesday 31-May-17 10:51 AM
Who would have thought that it is actually the owner and not the driver that is making the money. Very interesting to know. I would love to see some taxis of the road most of them is not even road worthy that is why there is so many deaths on our roads because they drive for money.
Henrietta said:
on Wednesday 31-May-17 10:26 AM
I have used Uber before and must say that it was convenient, I must admit a bit expensive but convenient. I think Uber will still grow a lot. I heard on the radio the other day that most of the people in Cape Town uses Uber nowadays and don't drive themselves anymore. What I also like about Uber is that you have to download the app to order a driver, they don't sit around and wait for people to come to them, so it is more that the driver who knows to pick you up and where and they are fast.
Liesl said:
on Wednesday 31-May-17 10:04 AM
If public transport in our country was anything like in the states etc I would definitely consider it. Driving in two hours plus traffic every morning to repeat it again in the afternoon can become too much after a while. I am no business woman but good taxi services in our country should be tapped into and developed more extensively. But for the Gautrain which has limited routes and stations we have a real need for good, reliable transport in our country that is not going to work out too expensive
Daniella said:
on Tuesday 30-May-17 09:27 AM
Uber is super convenient and safe, it probably takes 6 months to register a car because there is so many checks and precautions to take, a lot of people have actually bought cars for uber drivers and basically would make a cut out of it. Because Uber is a Laissez-faire management.
Mathilda said:
on Monday 29-May-17 11:03 AM
Uber is great and so convenient to use and I can think that more people want to get into the shuttle service
I think you can really make good money even if you get a driver and pay him a salary
Waiting 6 months to get a car on the Uber system does not seem that unreasonable to me
Brenda van den Bergh said:
on Monday 29-May-17 09:41 AM
Uber is a great company, and i think the idea behind it is genius. But unfortunately in South Africa this did not take well to other taxi service owners. of court there was a riot and protests and even blockages on major high ways. This is how South Africa reacts to competition. It does sound like you can make a lot of money driving for Uber, but is fearing your life really worth it?
Zindy said:
on Monday 29-May-17 08:41 AM
For there to be a back log of 6 months already is a clear indication how many people sit without jobs. That 6 months will soon turn into a year when people find out they can make money this way. I have never used an Uber before but have heard a lot of good things about it.
Joyce said:
on Friday 26-May-17 05:55 PM
Uber sounds convenient. I think if one is into business a 6 month waiting period to get a car onto the Uber system is not that bad since knowing that the wait is for getting into a big business
Liz said:
on Friday 26-May-17 05:35 PM
Uber is a great and I'm sure has resulted in fewer accidents on our roads. Considering the waiting period to register a car onto the Uber system, the company must be prospering, and this is in turn providing us with a convenient mode of transport as well as safety on our roads.
Michelle said:
on Friday 26-May-17 03:50 PM
I also never used Uber before. There are so many benefits for an Uber. I would rather use a Uber than a Taxi though, even when it’s more expensive. The way Taxis drive these days just blow my mind. I can think that the waiting period to get a Uber car will be so long, as it’s an easy way to make money.
Jolene said:
on Friday 26-May-17 03:31 PM
UBER is fantastic, it is quick, efficient and not that expensive. I’m quite surprised that you have to wait so long to register but it is great to know it’s doing so well even after all the strikes against Uber.
Melissa van Tellingen said:
on Friday 26-May-17 03:22 PM
I've never made use of Uber. I suppose it's a great tool to have at hand if you are out on the town with some friends. I have however heard of a couple of situations caused by Uber drivers and therefor I will not use t if I'm alone ever. I didn't know that the drivers are the owner of their own vehicles. I heard on the radio the other day that the App makes provisions for you to rate your Uber driver and for your Uber driver to rate you.
Nikita said:
on Friday 26-May-17 03:17 PM
I love Uber! So easy to use and keeps the drunks off the road to a large extent. There is competition coming in called Taxify. Its exactly the same concept just slightly cheaper.
Angelique P said:
on Friday 26-May-17 03:08 PM
Uber is doing excellent they are just expensive. I think it was a very good idea opening this business. There are so much people that use this. I think it’s really doing good.
Ashleigh said:
on Friday 26-May-17 01:16 PM
I would never use Uber alone, I would only use Uber with a group of friends should the need ever arise. I know a lot of people who use the Uber services and say that its great.
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Friday 26-May-17 11:24 AM
I think uber is amazing.Uber is a booming business.It is interesting to know that many drivers are not the actual owners of the vehicles
Sarah said:
on Friday 26-May-17 11:18 AM
i have used Uber before and it is safe and the driver was friendly. These days there is lots of ways to make money with technology
Juliet said:
on Friday 26-May-17 10:38 AM
I think UBER is amazing. My friend bought an UBER car and then unfortunately the driver wrote it off so that was a bit of a mess but it made them an extra couple thousand Rand each month while it lasted and I think it is a relatively low input business if you wanted to do it for extra income. Unless the driver writes off the car or starts robbing passengers etc.
Prishani said:
on Friday 26-May-17 10:01 AM
Uber is the future of transportation in my view, it is very apparent especially with the youth of the country who rely on it so much! I have no doubt that behind the scenes the processes are long and strict. It is interesting to know that many drivers are not the actual owners of the vehicles, because this has always been my perception.
Suzanne said:
on Friday 26-May-17 09:49 AM
This is very interesting. I have only taken Uber once and it was so efficient I would definitely do it again. I did chat to the driver a bit and in this case he was the owner of the car and said that he makes a good living.
Thabitha said:
on Friday 26-May-17 09:45 AM
I have realized this the time they were on strike that they are hired by someone as drivers they are not the owners and I understand taxi owners whats to introduce cards which you loud money on and used it when catching a taxi.
Clare said:
on Friday 26-May-17 09:31 AM
I have never got into a Uber car and I don't actually want to, however something strange happened to me the other day a Uber Driver came here to fetch me and I never ordered a Uber car nor do I have the app for it???? but I must say that it could be a good thing for people to use so that they can stop drinking and Driving as this seems to be one of our biggest problems with accident.
Bianca said:
on Friday 26-May-17 09:28 AM
I haven't yet made use of Uber however I am aware of a lot of people that make use of Uber on a very regular basis and it really is a booming business, it is such a practical idea but fantastic because it really does curb the amount of people drinking and driving on the roads and also in most cases, ensures that you arrive home safely and unharmed. I had no clue that the Uber drivers actually in most cases don't own the vehicles that they are driving. I am sure if you are looking to make a good amount of money, registering a vehicle with Uber is the way to go.
Alexis said:
on Friday 26-May-17 09:14 AM
I ride Uber on a daily basis, met one whom owned about three vehicles and with him doing it himself, had two other drivers driving for him as well. Majority of the Uber drivers I come across own their own vehicle, however had to wait that period in order to get same. It is good for them, as then they only have to pay Uber a percentage and not the owner of the vehicle as well.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Friday 26-May-17 09:13 AM
Wow - who would have thought! I suppose that Uber is such a lucrative business, people would explore avenues to exploit it before it no longer bears such fruit. Perhaps that is why there is the surge in prospective motor vehicle owners? I always thought that the Uber driver was an entrepeneur alas, his employer in fact is. Interesting find. Would you consider buying an Uber loaded motor vehcile? Lastly, I would implore you to make use of an Uber within Johannesburg - Johannesburg is a city with such a bad wrap but it is also a city of hidden gems and true treasures!
Jadine E said:
on Friday 26-May-17 09:04 AM
Wow, there is such a whole process behind Uber that we as commuters don't know about. But such services are a convenience.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
