For e-hailing drivers, the rhythmic clicking of a petrol pump has become the soundtrack to a disappearing way of life. They face an unrelenting and deep-seated anxiety regarding their distance from pickups and their platform acceptance rates.
There is a pervasive fear of committing to a five-kilometre journey toward a passenger, only to provide a mere three-kilometre trip. In this environment, every moment spent idling or navigating toward a pickup without a fare in the vehicle represents a direct threat to their survival.
Drivers are experiencing a dangerous combination of emotional strain and extreme physical exhaustion. As the income from a traditional 8-hour shift fails to meet fuel costs and basic household needs, many are forced to extend their workdays to 12, 14, or even 16 consecutive hours.
This reliance on prolonged shifts results in a sleep-deprived, increasingly resentful workforce, creating an atmosphere of intense pressure within the vehicle.
"Petrol has become incredibly costly, causing my profits to dwindle," shared e-hailing driver Meshack Mlambo. "I find myself losing 50% of my daily revenue just to replenish the tank, yet the platform continues to claim its full percentage. It genuinely feels as though I am underwriting the costs of my own job, my own employment out of my own pocket".
E-hailing driver Vusimuzi Shenge voiced his concerns: " On long-distance trips, despite the client being billed appropriately by the app, I only receive half of that sum. This amount barely covers fuel, leaving me with no personal earnings. Given that I am responsible for all fuel, maintenance, and permit costs, the platform ought to lower its commission; instead, I feel as though I am constantly losing ground."
“If I quit it means losing the car and destroying my credit; staying means driving 14 hours a day just to pay for the fuel and the vehicle, leaving nothing for my family,” shared Thabang Zulu, e-hailing driver.
“E-hailing used to be a job where hard work could lead to a better life. Now, it feels like we are just moving money around—from the passenger, through our hands, and straight into the petrol tank. We are working to keep the car alive, not ourselves.” Jonathan Zungu, full-time e-hailing driver.
The petrol pump crisis has exposed the gig economy's inherent instability. E-hailing convenience, once venture-capital-backed, now relies on drivers shouldering burdens like vehicle costs, extensive unpaid overtime, and eroding personal financial stability.
Fuel prices are projected to decrease in the upcoming month. This shift is attributed to a surge of market optimism following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran, aimed at concluding their conflict in the Middle East.
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