Taxify coming to Polokwane and East London
The latest addition of Polokwane and East London to its roster means that South Africa is now Taxify’s most well-serviced nation.
Taxify, the international e-hailing cab service, is expanding its operations in South Africa to include Polokwane in Limpopo and East London in the Eastern Cape.
Taxify, like Uber, works through a mobile app which allows customers to reserve and manage their travel by booking an available cab driver. Taxify operates in more than 25 countries, globally; the latest addition of Polokwane and East London to its roster means that South Africa is now its most well-serviced nation.
Taxify services in South Africa top the global count
According to a report by Business Tech, Taxify, which is originally an Estonian based company, began operating in South Africa in 2016 in Johannesburg. In two years, the e-hailing service has grown its local presence to include eight South African cities, namely Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, and the two latest additions of Polokwane and East London.
And while Uber is still leading the African market in the e-hailing sector, Taxify is hot on its heels, recently securing a massive $175 million investment, which has allowed it to expand its operations and move into new territories.
Gareth Taylor, Taxify’s regional manager for South Africa, claimed that a flailing public transport system had opened the door for e-hailing services, saying:
“Demand for ride-hailing services is growing across South Africa as public transport is increasingly unreliable and the costs of car ownership soar.
Ride hailing services like Taxify make it possible for more people to enjoy the convenience and safety of getting from one place to another, without the costs of car ownership or the inconvenience of public transport.”
Taxify and Uber join hands in protest
In June, drivers working for Taxify and Uber joined hands to protest, what they called, unreasonable working conditions. Drivers from the rival companies put down their phones and logged out of their apps, calling for better pay and regulations which would protect veteran drivers from being outdone by young upstarts.
Both companies vowed to investigate the issues raised by their employees.