A video circulating on social media has ignited fierce debate after a woman was allegedly told by a taxi marshal in Chatsworth that the Uber vehicle she had booked was not permitted to operate in the area because it was allegedly not from Chatsworth.
The footage, shared online, appears to show a marshal from the Chatsworth Minibus Taxi Association speaking to a passenger about the e-hailing vehicle she had requested.
According to the passenger, she explained that when she booked the Uber through the app, she had no way of knowing whether the driver was from Chatsworth or another area.
The incident has since drawn strong reactions from residents, many of whom questioned whether commuters should be prevented from using transport services of their choice.
Among the dozens of comments posted online, Wendy Isaacs wrote: “Amazing how they make their own laws.”
Musher Khan questioned the legality of the alleged demand, commenting: “Please show us where under the law it says that Uber drivers cannot come into an area.”
Others drew comparisons to previous taxi-related controversies. Nosisa Sie Phoswa commented: “Did this marshall miss the Kwandengezi saga? They must tell Mkhwanazi and crew if they want their taxis impounded too.”
Several users expressed concern about commuter freedoms.
“That’s not allowed. Her money, she can use who she wants to. What happened to freedom of movement without being harassed and told who to use?” wrote Cynthia Naidoo.
Kashni Modesti Helm said similar incidents allegedly occur elsewhere, commenting: “This same drama everywhere. One can’t choose what mode of transportation they would like to use, even at Phoenix Plaza and Cornubia.”
While many criticised the alleged actions of the marshal, one commenter suggested the interaction appeared less confrontational than previous incidents.
“Gotta say though whilst the marshal is wrong about who can and who can’t, his demeanour is not threatening like other marshals,” wrote Shanik Siebalak.
Others were less forgiving, with Ryan Hardwich describing taxi associations as “mafia gangs at work”, while Lenzo Pillay said: “These thugs must be dealt with by the law before it escalates into a fully blown nightmare where innocent people will lose their lives.”
Farah Abdul Hamid alleged that she had experienced difficulties when attempting to use e-hailing services in Chatsworth, claiming that drivers are often reluctant to enter certain areas because of concerns about confrontations.
The video has reignited broader discussions around the coexistence of the taxi industry and e-hailing services, as well as the rights of commuters to choose their preferred mode of transport.
Responding to the controversy, Mr SN Buthelezi told Merebank and Chatsworth Tabloid that the issue was not whether e-hailing drivers were from Chatsworth or another area.
“The issue here is not that the e-hailing vehicle is not from Chatsworth,” he said. “The concern is that drivers operating in the area should be registered under the association, which requires a registration fee of R250.”
Buthelezi further alleged that there have been concerns regarding the selection of drivers on some e-hailing platforms.
“There are allegations of racial discrimination when drivers are being selected,” he said.
According to Buthelezi, the concerns extend beyond drivers and also affect commuters.
“It not only disturbs drivers, but commuters as well because they sometimes struggle to secure rides,” he said.
He also claimed that passengers have raised complaints about fare discrepancies and service standards.
“The price is often changed from the amount reflected on the app. In some instances, drivers increase the fare and mix customers in one ride, which can be an inconvenience for passengers,” he alleged.
Buthelezi said the association’s concerns relate to the regulation and operation of e-hailing services within the area rather than the geographical origin of drivers.
He added that the association believes there should be greater oversight of e-hailing operators to ensure fairness for both drivers and commuters.
