CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape E-Hailing Association is calling on the Transport Department to urgently intervene over what it describes as inhumane working conditions for Uber drivers.
This comes after Uber shut down its waiting area at Cape Town International Airport amid tensions between local and foreign national drivers.
Operators say the closure has forced them to wait for ride requests in high-crime areas, including Bishop Lavis.
Operators accuse Uber of failing to properly vet undocumented users on its platform.
They also say drivers are expected to contribute financially towards the upkeep of a facility they are currently unable to use.
The majority of Uber drivers at the site declined to speak on camera, saying they feared being blocked from the app.
Some operators have turned to alternative e-hailing platforms, which continue to accept ride requests at the site.
The Airports Company South Africa has referred eNCA to Uber, clarifying that the site is leased directly to the e-hailing company.
Uber says the waiting area was temporarily closed due to safety concerns.
The company adds that it is engaging with stakeholders to find a viable, long-term solution.