Uber faces another challenge as South Africa prepares a new law

Uber’s troubles in Africa are far from over after South Africa’s government moved to tighten regulation on the e-hailing company.

Uber has been engaged in conflict with local taxi drivers in several African countries,many of whom accuse the company of undermining their business and reducing their profits.

The animosity boiled over in South Africa, one of Uber’s biggest markets when an Uber driver was murdered in Pretoria on June 10.

In order to curb the growing tension,the Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi and Police Minister Fikile Mbalula have met to plan on measures. Uber also met the government officials to put forth its case and seek assurances about the safety of its operators.

According to South Africa’s Fin24.com, the National Land Transport Act Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, would clarify regulations in terms of e-hailing public transport services like Uber.

Details of the new regulation include an operating licence for operators of public transport services according to the state officials.

“This regulation therefore means that any operator who operates a public transport service without an operating licence will be violating the law and law enforcement officers will act on such an operator” .