The Western Cape E-hailing Association says a proposed representative council risks excluding e-hailing operators who have not been issued operating licences by the provincial government.
The council is intended to give thousands of e-hailing and metered taxi operators a collective voice on issues including licensing, compliance and operating conditions.
Operators with valid operating licences have until next Thursday to register to vote and nominate candidates.
The Western Cape Mobility Department is overseeing the election process but says it will not influence the outcome.
Association chairperson Siyabonga Hlabisa said they cautiously welcomed the initiative but were concerned that no e-hailing operator in the province had been issued an operating licence.
“Honestly speaking, from our side, we are not happy with the fact that many of us are being left behind, especially in the e-hailing industry, because the Western Cape government has never issued an e-hailing operating licence. If an operating licence is a requirement to serve on the council, that means only metered taxi operators will be represented. It means we don’t exist because we don’t have operating licences,” Hlabisa said.
Hlabisa is, however, urging eligible operators to participate in the election, saying change is only possible if they engage with the process.
“Those who qualify, those who have operating licences, we urge them to go and vote and participate in this, because I don’t feel there is anything you can solve when you are outside,” he added.
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