South Africa’s first “Afrikaans Uber” – e-hailing company, Wanatu – is facing criticism from labour and law experts over its apparent “discrimination.”
According to its founders, the service only employs drivers who speak the language. However, the service is openly available to the public who live in the Centurion and Pretoria areas.
WANATU SPARKS CONTROVERSY OVER ‘DISCRIMINATION’
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, labour law specialist Craig Kirchmann accused Wanatu of showing “straightforward discrimination against non-speaking Afrikaaners.”
This is based on the requirement that all drivers – hired through the privately funded company – speak Afrikaans.
He said of Wanatu’s restrictive policy: “We live in a society that has been troubled by discrimination. And continues to be. I believe we have to be sensitive not to perpetuate that problem.
“Even if noble intentions can be discovered, I’m [not] persuaded that Afrikaans is strictly necessary to be employed as an e-hailing driver. Making that a requirement meets the needs of very few people who can’t communicate satisfactorily with a driver.”
He continued: “I don’t believe there can be very many of those people in the country. To exclude so many people from that job market is very difficult to justify. And our courts would frown upon it.
According to Werksmans Attorneys, Wanatu could be in contravention of Section 9 of the Constitution and Section 6 of the Employment Equity Act.
The law firm told BusinessTechthat “excluding potential employees based on language may constitute unfair discrimination unless the company can prove that the requirement is rational, justifiable, and inherently linked to the job.”
“Wanatu faces a challenge in proving that Afrikaans proficiency is indispensable for its drivers,” it added.
WHY MUST DRVERS SPEAK AFRIKAANS?
According to Wanatu, the e-hailing service aims to create job opportunities among Afrikaans-speaking South Africans and “restore the dignity” of the community.
Director Van Rooy van den Berg told Jacaranda FM: “A dignified job is one of the foundations for making a person feel valuable. Many people in the Afrikaner cultural community have lost their jobs in recent years. That is why it is a calling to create dignified work opportunities”.
While drivers are required to speak Afrikaans fluently, passengers do not have to.
Since its inception in October 2024, the e-hailing app has employed close to 100 drivers and has around 30 000 subscribers, including actress Reandi Grey and former Springbok Victor Matfield.
According to Wanatu, drivers utilise branded Toyota Corolla Cross HEV hybrid electric vehicles. The service – which is mainly used by schoolchildren, business people, and the elderly – offers school transport and airport shuttle services.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WANATU’S SERVICE?
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