inDrive's bold plan to combat GBV
inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, strengthened its commitment to combatting gender-based violence (GBV) by participating in the GBV Forum hosted by the University of Johannesburg on March 31.
This initiative comes at a critical time as South Africa continues to tackle the alarming GBV statistics, particularly within the transportation sector.
Read more: Youth activist in his battle against GBV
According to recent reports, in the second quarter of 2024, South Africa recorded 10 516 rapes and 881 murders of women. In addition, a study presented to the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in October 2024 showed that a minimum of 7m women in South Africa experienced physical violence, with more than 2m surviving sexual abuse. These figures highlight the urgent need for collaboration efforts to address GBV across all sectors, including ride-hailing services.
The GBV Forum convened key stakeholders, including government officials, advocacy groups, and industry leaders, to develop strategies aimed at enhancing safety within mobility services. inDrive highlighted its proactive measures to combat GBV through strategic partnerships, enhanced driver training programmes, and initiatives to increase the number of female drivers, creating a safer and more inclusive ride-hailing experience.
Also read: Forging a path away from GBV
'As a people-driven platform, safety is at the core of everything we do. The GBV Forum is an important step in ensuring that mobility services protect both passengers and drivers, particularly women. With the Easter holidays approaching – a period that often sees an increase in GBV incidents – it is crucial to reinforce safety measures and strengthen community engagement,' said Ashif Black, business development specialist at inDrive.
In a bold move to challenge the status quo, they have committed to increasing the number of female drivers on its platform, providing more transport options and economic empowerment opportunities for women. This initiative aligns with the company's broader mission to promote fairness and accessibility in the mobility sector.
Beyond the forum, inDrive is gearing up to launch additional safety initiatives in collaboration with government and community leaders to strengthen its impact.
inDrive urges fellow ride-hailing platforms, policymakers, and advocacy groups to collaborate in addressing GBV in the mobility sector. By sharing best practices and driving policy discussions, the industry can work towards creating safer transportation solutions for all.
'Safety is a shared responsibility. We invite our industry peers, government representatives, and the broader community to join us in ensuring that ride-hailing services are not just convenient but also secure for everyone, particularly women,' added Black.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
Related article: Community takes a stand against GBV
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Transport minister raises concerns over lack of formalisation in taxi Industry
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has expressed serious concern over the government's ongoing failure to formalise South Africa's taxi industry Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has expressed serious concern over the government's ongoing failure to formalise South Africa's taxi industry and align it with what she called "normal competitive business practices". 'I am very concerned that we do seem to be failing to formalise the taxi industry and to ensure that this industry operates with what one could call normal competitive business practices,' Creecy said in interview broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.. She noted that this issue has been central in her discussions with national taxi associations, and affirmed that it remains a top priority in the government's engagement with the sector. 'It's my belief that we can't continue this way. It brings the industry into disrepute, and it poses a danger to commuters,' she added. Her comments come amid escalating concerns about violence in the taxi sector. Last week, four people were killed at the Emfuleni taxi rank in the Western Cape, when armed men opened fire. According to reports police believe the shooting may have been triggered by a dispute between the taxi associations CATA and CODETA, who are reportedly in conflict over control of a taxi route linking Mfuleni and Somerset West. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Responding to the Minister's comments, South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) national spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala acknowledged the slow pace of reform. "The Minister's concern is our concern, the pace at which efforts to formalise the taxi industry are going is concerning, since the 2020 National Taxi Lekgotla during which we resolved to professionalize the industry through collaboration, processes have been moving at a pace slower than we would have hoped for," Phala said. "However, not all hope is lost. We are hard at work with our road safety initiatives, use of security services for our ranks, driver and marshal training, introduction of automated fare collection systems and the restoration of other commuter safety initiatives. We draw inspiration in hearing the Minister continue to highlight the work that has to be undertaken alongside the department and other agencies and private partners". Creecy emphasised the crucial role of the taxi industry, which she said transports nearly 80% of the country's commuters and is 100% black-owned. 'We really need to move from the current situation,' she urged, calling for deeper structural reform, better oversight, and collaborative problem-solving across all levels of government and industry. According to Phala, changes are underway within the industry. "All taxi associations are now moving from the operation of sole proprietor taxi businesses to the formation of cooperatives which will employ drivers and other workforces of the industry into employees who will receive salaries and other work benefits in alignment with the Basic Conditions Of Employment. Operators are becoming directors of taxi businesses though cooperatives to ensure tax compliance and other levy contributions," she said. On the issue of violence, Phala said the industry was working with all law enforcement. "To address ongoing violence, we have collaborative efforts with law enforcement agencies to combat crimes. Equally, because we understand that turf wars are linked to the competitive nature of the transport sector, we are introducing other value chain opportunities like sale of lubricants and fuel, sale of vehicle parts and other businesses for operators to leverage multiple business opportunities and not focus on one opportunity". IOL Business
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Chocolate prices set to rise in South Africa
Global cocoa prices remain near record highs and may still rise, leaving South African consumers unlikely to find cheaper chocolates this year. According to BusinessTech , while South Africa's overall inflation remains within the Reserve Bank's 3% to 6% target range, food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation rose to 4.0% in April 2025. Within that category, sugar, confectionery, and desserts saw sharper increases, rising 5.6% year-on-year. Chocolate prices alone jumped 6%. Over a longer period, the increases are even more striking. A standard chocolate slab now costs nearly 27% more than it did in 2023, while the price of a chocolate bar has gone up 18.6%. Soaring global cocoa prices, which have increased by almost 300% in the past year, have directly driven the surge in chocolate prices. Cocoa reached a record high of $12 565 per metric tonne in December 2024. Extreme weather and disease have devastated cocoa crops in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, driving the spike in prices. The two countries together produce about two-thirds of the world's cocoa. Although exports from the Ivory Coast briefly increased earlier this year, easing prices, the government has since warned of tighter supply, which reversed the trend. Now, concerns over the quality of the ongoing mid-crop are driving prices higher again. Reuters analysts report that cocoa processors are rejecting truckloads of beans due to poor quality. Cocoa processors reject about 5% to 6% of mid-crop deliveries, compared to just 1% during the main crop. Erratic rainfall has caused the drop in quality and could cause yields to fall 9% from 2024 levels. Major chocolate manufacturers, including Mondelez International which owns Cadbury and Oreo have acknowledged the price strain. The company flagged 'unprecedented cocoa cost inflation' in recent forecasts and warned that more price increases may be necessary if prices remain high. Nestlé and other global producers have also hinted at future price increases due to cocoa shortages and rising input costs. Tiger Brands owner of Beacon and South Africa's popular marshmallow Easter eggs is looking to sell its chocolate division, citing decades of underinvestment and limited strategic focus. The group admitted it had failed to keep pace with competitors like Cadbury and acknowledged it had not actively engaged with the brand or updated its technology in over 30 years. Tiger Brands will support Beacon until it finds a suitable buyer but believes new ownership could improve the brand's performance. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
Trump-Musk showdown threatens US space plans
Elon Musk says his time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end. Image: Brandon Bell / Getty Images via AFP SpaceX's rockets ferry US astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Starlink satellite constellation blankets the globe with broadband, and the company is embedded in some of the Pentagon's most sensitive projects, including tracking hypersonic missiles. So when President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to cancel Elon Musk's federal contracts, space watchers snapped to attention. Musk, the world's richest person, shot back that he would mothball Dragon -- the capsule NASA relies on for crew flights -- before retracting the threat a few hours later. For now, experts say mutual dependence should keep a full-blown rupture at bay, but the episode exposes just how disruptive any break could be. Founded in 2002, SpaceX leapfrogged legacy contractors to become the world's dominant launch provider. Driven by Musk's ambition to make humanity multiplanetary, it is now NASA's sole means of sending astronauts to the ISS -- a symbol of post–Cold War cooperation and a testbed for deeper space missions. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Space monopoly? The company has completed 10 regular crew rotations to the orbiting lab and is contracted for four more, under a deal worth nearly $5 billion. That's just part of a broader portfolio that includes $4 billion from NASA for developing Starship, the next-generation megarocket; nearly $6 billion from the Space Force for launch services; and a reported $1.8 billion for Starshield, a classified spy satellite network. Were Dragon grounded, the United States would again be forced to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets for ISS access -- as it did between 2011 and 2020, following the Space Shuttle's retirement and before Crew Dragon entered service. "Under the current geopolitical climate, that would not be optimal," space analyst Laura Forczyk told AFP. NASA had hoped Boeing's Starliner would provide redundancy, but persistent delays -- and a failed crewed test last year -- have kept it grounded. Even Northrop Grumman's cargo missions now rely on SpaceX's Falcon 9, the workhorse of its rocket fleet. The situation also casts a shadow over NASA's Artemis program. A lunar lander variant of Starship is slated for Artemis III and IV, the next US crewed Moon missions. If Starship were sidelined, rival Blue Origin could benefit -- but the timeline would almost certainly slip, giving China, which aims to land humans by 2030, a chance to get there first, Forczyk warned. "There are very few launch vehicles as capable as Falcon 9 -- it isn't feasible to walk away as easily as President Trump might assume," she said. NASA meanwhile appeared eager to show that it had options. "NASA is assessing the earliest potential for a Starliner flight to the International Space Station in early 2026, pending system certification and resolution of Starliner's technical issues," the agency said in a statement Friday to AFP. Still, the feud could sour Trump on space altogether, Forczyk cautioned, complicating NASA's long-term plans. SpaceX isn't entirely dependent on the US government. Starlink subscriptions and commercial launches account for a significant share of its revenue, and the company also flies private missions. The next, with partner Axiom Space, will carry astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, funded by their respective governments. Private power, public risk But losing US government contracts would still be a major blow. "It's such a doomsday scenario for both parties that it's hard to envision how US space efforts would fill the gap," Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told AFP. "Both sides have every reason to bridge the disagreement and get back to business." Signs of a rift emerged last weekend, when the White House abruptly withdrew its nomination of e-payments billionaire Jared Isaacman -- a close Musk ally who has twice flown to space with SpaceX -- as NASA administrator. On a recent podcast, Isaacman said he believed he was dropped because "some people had some axes to grind, and I was a good, visible target." The broader episode could also reignite debate over Washington's reliance on commercial partners, particularly when one company holds such a dominant position. Swope noted that while the US government has long favored buying services from industry, military leaders tend to prefer owning the systems they depend on. "This is just another data point that might bolster the case for why it can be risky," he said. "I think that seed has been planted in a lot of people's minds -- that it might not be worth the trust."
