The recent impoundment of vehicles belonging to Wanatu, an Afrikaans-focused e-hailing service operating primarily in Pretoria and Centurion, has triggered significant controversy and scrutiny. The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) seized three of Wanatu's vehicles for operating without the required municipal permits. This enforcement activity is drawing accusations of double standards and raising concerns over the company’s hiring policy, which allegedly favors Afrikaans-speaking drivers.
These impoundments occurred during routine traffic operations on Wednesday and were reported by TMPD spokesperson Isaac Mahamba. He stated, “We spotted these ones; we did not target Wanatu vehicles.” The seized vehicles will be released upon payment of necessary pound fees, but they will remain off the roads until valid permits are secured.
Wanatu, which started its operations on October 2024, markets itself as catering to Afrikaans-speaking commuters. The company’s approach, which reportedly limits hiring to Afrikaans speakers, has ignited debate. Critics argue this policy may violate South African labor laws, with suggestions it could lead to discriminatory practices. Legal experts have weighed in on the matter, asserting businesses may have preferences for operational languages, but outright exclusion based on language can be discriminatory.
Confusion surrounding Wanatu’s legal standing grew following remarks from Ayanda Allie of Build One SA (BOSA), who raised questions on social media about the company’s operating permits. After witnessing drivers on the job without permits, Allie questioned, “If the e-hailing market is oversaturated, why is Wanatu, which was launched recently, allowed to operate without permits?”
The mayor of Tshwane, Nasiphi Moya, publicly confirmed the vehicle impoundments on social media, asserting, “We do not discriminate when enforcing bylaws in Tshwane.” This statement aimed to counter claims of biased enforcement practices, often levied against the TMPD for its handling of various e-hailing platforms.
Responding to the swift actions of city officials, Roads and Transport MMC Tlangi Mogale noted they only became aware of Wanatu's operations shortly before the impoundments occurred. She confirmed officials had identified at least one vehicle without the proper licensing and were following protocol, indicating Wanatu’s legal representative had sought the vehicle’s release unsuccessfully because it lacked the necessary road carrier permit.
On the backfoot, Wanatu swiftly suspended its services, notifying customers via SMS and on social media. The company criticized the TMPD’s actions as “illegal” and accused them of intimidating drivers. A message sent read, “Wanatu service is temporarily suspended due to the illegal actions of the TMPD by illegally impounding our vehicles and intimidation of our drivers. We’re going to court!”
Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission is now investigating Wanatu’s hiring practices. They are examining claims the company only hires Afrikaans-speaking individuals—practices reported to conflict with South Africa's constitutional protections against discrimination based on language or ethnicity. Mogale reinforced this stance, declaring, “We have said it is unacceptable for any company to recruit only Afrikaans-speaking drivers in a diverse country like South Africa.”
Despite Wanatu's stated objective to serve Afrikaans-speaking passengers, the company's CEO, Judith van der Walt, has yet to provide detailed commentary on the controversy, promising to address the matter soon. The inquiry is particularly thorny considering the extensive backlog of permit applications experienced by other e-hailing services, such as Uber and Bolt, which have faced similar regulatory challenges.
The e-hailing drivers union, E-hailing Partners Council (EPC), previously staged protests against the TMPD’s strict enforcement methods. They argue the sudden push for compliance has left many drivers caught off guard due to the permitting process created out of the recent amendments to the National Land Transport Act. This situation has led to claims of unequal treatment among e-hailing operators.
While Wanatu prepares for its legal battle against the TMPD’s enforcement actions, the underlying issues of regulatory compliance, discrimination, and the future of Afrikaans-focused services hang precariously. The company’s entry has added complexity to the already contentious dynamics of the local e-hailing market, and many await the outcomes of both the impoundment proceedings and the human rights investigations.