Maile pledges support to ensure safety within SA’s e-hailing sector

By Johnathan Paoli

Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has pledged to improve e-hailing safety and called for urgent measures to address security concerns in the industry.

This follows damning findings released earlier this year by the gender non-profit organization, Women for Change, which revealed widespread concerns about feeling unsafe while using e-hailing services within the city and surrounding areas.

Delivering the keynote address at the official launch of the Bolt South Africa’s Global Safety Campaign in Johannesburg on Thursday, Maile said the organisation’s report revealed alarming statistics.

A staggering 73% of users reported feeling unsafe during trips, while 22% of respondents shared experiences of harassment or verbal abuse, with 8% encountering such issues on a regular basis.

The report highlighted that nearly half (48%) of participants knew someone who had been assaulted or harassed by a driver.

These insights have underscored the urgent need for improved safety measures in the