Uber Eats is back with essentials – including chocolate and nappies – during SA’s lockdown

Business Insider SA

Apr 06, 2020, 10:51 AM

Uber Eats is back, nationwide, during South Africa's Covid-19 lockdown.
As of 6 April the service, normally known for fast food, is delivering basic food items and supplies from pharmacies.
Deliveries are available from 09:00 to 17:00, but Uber warns that availability is limited, and that the number of shops is still expanding.
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Uber Eats is back, delivering nationwide as of 6 April, despite South Africa's national Covid-19 lockdown.

While the fast food restaurants the service is known for remain closed, food outlets and pharmacies have been added to the platform, so that everything from chocolate to nappies can now be ordered for delivery.

The service looks much like it did before lockdown, complete with real-time tracking of orders, with the only notable difference being delivery being available only between 09:00 and 17:00.

Uber Eats said it would charge a flat fee of R25 to deliver essentials, with a R5 "small order" fee for orders below R50. However, as of Monday morning several stores were available at "R0" delivery fees in various major centres, for orders above R50.

Uber Eats started offering "no contact" delivery before lockdown, which means orders are left at the door, with no direct contact between courier and customer.

During lockdown, no cash transactions will be accepted; all orders must be paid online via card.

As of Monday morning a number of raw-food specialist outlets and pharmacies were available on the platform. Uber warned that availability was limited, but said new stores would be added in days to come.

(Compiled by Phillip de Wet)