I recently took a trip to the City of Gold where my friends and I solely relied on Uber to get around. We even had an Uber pick up my bags from the Gautrain Station in Rosebank and drop them off at my friend’s place in Parkhurst. Can you say service? Definitely.

Every time I got into an Uber, I made a point of raising the issue of regular taxi services hunting down and often threatening Uber drivers for taking away their business. Some were modest, other expressed their views, and most knew someone who had been threatened.

Most regular taxi services in South Africa are unlicensed, so you never know who or what situation you’re getting into, which only adds to the already weary South African’s paranoia.

Uber, on the other hand, is a significantly superior product and typically for less.

My mini-survey showed that it was in Jozi that the threats were a bit more real than in Cape Town and only the Uber Excell drivers were wholly safe.

And this is indeed a world-wide issue.

The video shown here was recorded in Ottawa, Canada and shows a very hostile cab driver taking out his frustrations not only on the Uber driver, but also the passenger.

You think I’m joking? If I see you again, you’re dead meat. Come out and talk to me like a man.

You f*ckin’ cheapskate, take a real f*ckin’ taxi.

As the battle continues, it seems Uber ain’t going anywhere and that regular taxi services need to suit up or shut up.

If you haven’t tried Uber yet, you’re making a mockery of yourself. Stop riding cheap unreliable taxis with drivers who don’t know if they’re coming or going. Give yourself the private driver treatment with Uber and get R150 off your first ride!

[source: gawker]