Metered taxis in Durban want to take on Uber with their own app – and a bit of intimidation

(YoTaxi)

• Metered taxi associations in Durban have launched an e-hailing service they hope will compete with Uber and Bolt. 
• The Mercury reported that the competitor started operations early Tuesday morning as drivers associated with the new YoTax took to the streets – and threatened Uber and Bolt drivers.
• For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.

12 metered-taxi associations in Durban have launched their own e-hailing service YoTaxi to compete with the likes of Uber and Bolt (formerly Taxify) – and are threatening drivers of those services to join them or face violence. 

The Mercury reported that association members warned Uber and Bolt drivers on Tuesday to stop operating in Kwazulu-Natal.

"Tell your owners to come and join, and put their cars under YoTaxi, so that they can be safe. This is our job and it belongs to the taxi industry," a taxi owner told reporter Sakhiseni Nxumalo.

KwaZulu-Natal is notorious for its level of taxi violence. 

According to Isolezwe, more than 100 vehicles have started to operate under the YoTaxi banner.

Unlike Uber, Bolt and other e-hailing services, YoTaxi drivers wear uniform and drive in branded vehicles. Drivers pay a R10,000 fee for registration and equipment.

It is not yet clear if, or when, the app will be rolled out to the rest of the country.

(A photo caption in this article previous referred to YoTaxi as an Australian company. It is, in fact, a local initiative. Business Insider apologises for the error.)

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