Joint statement of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and Unity in Diversity (UID)
On Monday, 21 March 2022, MEC Jacob Mamabolo, along with the officials from the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (“the Department”) met with Unity in Diversity (“UID”), an action group representing a number of e-hailing driver partners which includes owner-drivers, owners and drivers of e-hailing vehicles, to discuss the protest action planned by e-hailing driver partners for Tuesday, 22 March 2022, against the various e-hailing companies operating within South Africa.
The meeting forms part of an ongoing mediation process between the office of the MEC, the Department, UID as well as affected stakeholders including e-hailing companies which was instituted for the purpose of ventilating and mediating a dispute between the e-hailing driver partners and the e-hailing companies.
The parties had a productive meeting in which it was resolved that UID will proceed with the planned protest action on 22 March 2022 subject to increased security measures and strict adherence to a safe and non-violent protest.
Following concerns regarding safety and security as regards human life and property as raised in correspondence addressed by the MEC to UID as well as to the South African Police Service and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, UID assured the MEC that the protest will remain peaceful and has committed to prioritizing safety and security by deploying additional marshals to the protest. The MEC accepted the assurances by UID.
The MEC emphasised the importance of mediation and negotiation and assured the parties that mediation will be concluded in the next three months.
UID undertook to engage with its members with a view to obtaining a mandate on the continued participation of the members in the mediation process.
The parties are unanimous that the meeting was constructive and conducted in a collaborative manner. The parties also agreed to institutionalize regular engagements on matters of common interest.
Enquiries:
Melitah Madiba
Cell: 073 644 9935
Theo Nkonki
Cell: 082 719 6404
E-mail: PressOffice.gpdrt@gauteng.gov.za
