Intermediation business (e-hailing) is a service provided to book public transport services through electronic applications. E-hailing vehicle is a private vehicle used to provide public transport services to passengers who book through electronic applications.
The most affordable e-hailing options in South Africa
1. Uber
Uber is one of the largest e-ride apps in the world. The San Francisco-based company was founded in 2009 and is currently operational in over 600 cities in over 65 countries. Uber is currently present in major cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Durban, East London, Cape Town, Kimberely etc.
Ever since Uber was launched in South Africa, it has incorporated several features that ensure the reliability and accountability of the service.
2. Bolt
Bolt formerly Taxify is one of the most popular taxi-hailing services in South Africa. Ever since the company made its entrance into South Africa, it has grown tremendously to cover 12 cities.
Bolts can be gotten from major cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, Kimberley, East London, Cape Town, Durban, Ermelo, Queenstown, Rustenburg, Welkom etc.
3. InDriver
InDriver is one of the most populous countries in South Africa and has recently been launched in South Africa. The e-hailing app has over 35 million users in more than 300 cities in 28 countries.
The most interesting thing about this e-hailing app is that you get to set your own fare instead of the app dictating for you. Once you have provided your desired destination, you enter an amount that you’re willing to pay. After doing this, nearby drivers can either match your requested amount or bid a higher amount.
Currently, their services are available in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Durban.
4. Taxi Live Africa
Taxi Live Africa is one of the newest entry into the South African e-hailing industry. The company was officially launched in June 2024. Taxi Live Africa has been designed to give metered taxi drivers as well as private and owner taxi drivers their own app to connect to people who need a ride.
Taxi Live Africa is currently operational in Durban and plans are underway to expand to other cities in the country. However, drivers in Johannesburg and Cape Town have started using the e-hailing App.
5. Yookoo Rider
Yookoo Rider is an e-hailing app launched by the South African Meter Taxi Association. The app is available for download on IOS and Google Play Store. The ride-hailing app claims to be 40% cheaper than Uber and Bolt. It also comes with various payments options which include paying from the in-app prepaid wallet, credit/debit card or cash. It also has a panic button as one of its safety features.
6. Africa Ride
South Africa-based Africa Ride is a small firm competing with Uber in one of its most popular markets. The local ride-hailing company was launched in 2024 and has gained popularity by accepting payments via mobile money services.
7. Hailer
Hailer is one of the new entry into the e-ride company. The company was launched in 2024 and is owned by Johannesburg-based Zimbabwean entrepreneur Malvin Nkomo. The company is currently operational in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Kimberley.
Hailer aims to compete with Uber and Bolt through a competitive pricing and commission structure, security, and safety features and by marketing Hailer as a local brand.
8. Tag Your Ride
Tag Your Ride is one of the indigenous e-ride company in South Africa. The app was launched by Rogerant Tshibangu, a university graduate and now academic development officer at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The app has standard pricing for the rides stipulated on their app to prevent overcharging people. Currently, it’s operational in Pietermaritzburg, Durban, and Harare.
9. uMashesha
uMashesha is one of the e-ride start-up companies in South Africa owned by Christine Mesolo. The Pretoria-based e-ride company was launched in 2024 and has completed over 1000 trips.
The company charges drivers a commission of 14.5% on earnings — about 0.5% shy of what Taxify charges. Uber’s commission is about 25%, while another local startup Hailer takes 10%. At present, the company employs 30 full-time operational staff, 44 interns and 963 drivers.
10 YoTaxi
YoTaxi is an e-hailing service that was designed to compete with the top players in the industry. The Durban-based company was incorporated by the metered-taxi association. YoTaxi drivers wear uniforms and drive in branded vehicles. Drivers pay an R10,000 fee for registration and equipment.
How many Ehailing drivers are there in South Africa?
“Bolt is always looking for ways to make e-hailing safer for everybody, in consultation with the SAPS, the Department of Transport, and other stakeholders, so that we can continue to offer a way that more than 25,000 drivers can earn an income and a way for millions of people in South Africa to access affordable door-
Is Uber an e-hailing service in South Africa ?
Uber and Bolt just happened to be the most used and popular among the e-hailing companies, but cannot be said to be the best when there are no yardsticks for measurement.
How do ride hailing services work in South Africa?
How does ride-hailing work? The customer orders a car from an app. The app sends their location and request to a nearby driver who can decide if they want to accept the ride. If they accept the ride, the customer can see the car in their app as it rides towards them and the time it will take for the car to arrive.
What is the difference between ride sharing and ride hailing in South Africa?
A ride-sharing service connects riders with independent drivers who work on their own time. A ride-hailing service is a third party that connects riders with taxi services in the area. These drivers are traditional taxi drivers and work on the clock
Is carpooling and ride sharing the same thing in South Africa?
Carpool is the original ride-sharing. Basically, you take a passenger in your car when you commute or take a trip, instead of riding alone. The idea is to stop the passenger from having to make the same trip in their car.