CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — South Africa’s e-hailing firms are introducing comprehensive women-focused safety measures, including dedicated female driver options and advanced in-app tracking, to protect passengers and drivers amid the country’s severe gender-based violence crisis.
South Africa currently has one of the highest femicide rates globally, estimated to be around five times the world average. This grim reality extends into everyday transit, prompting ride-hailing companies to give female passengers the choice of having a woman behind the wheel.
An e-hailing platform spokesperson highlighted the introduction of a specific “woman for women” category on their apps. “It’s a category designed specifically for women riders who are a lot more comfortable traveling with a female driver partner who has been vetted by the platform,” the spokesperson explained. They noted that the feature is already established and continues to grow among both the female driver base and the broader driver partner network.
In alignment with national transport regulations, these e-hailing services have integrated a suite of enhanced safety features. These include in-app panic buttons, ride codes, branded vehicles, and real-time live tracking of trips. Furthermore, the systems are engineered to detect sudden stops and route deviations.
If the system picks up these types of anomalies, emergency assistance can be triggered and immediately dispatched to the location of the distress signal. For situations that do not require immediate emergency intervention, a dedicated team of safety experts is available 24/7 to conduct wellness calls, assess what is going on, and determine the necessary escalation for the trip.
For e-hailing driver Princess Mehlo, these safety features and the ability to choose her passengers provide crucial peace of mind. Mehlo expressed that she feels significantly safer driving with female passengers, noting her discomfort with male riders due to the unpredictability of what might happen on the road.
However, Mehlo remains acutely aware of the severe risks attached to her profession, especially in light of the recent murders of women in the country. “Every day when I’m getting in the car, it’s always present,” Mehlo shared, detailing her daily fears of being raped, shot dead, stabbed, or robbed.
Mehlo’s concerns reflect the broader reality for millions of women across the nation. With safety never a given, gender-based violence continues to follow women into their workplaces, public spaces, and even their own homes, making these new e-hailing safety measures a critical step toward secure and reliable transit.
