Latest news with #AshifBlack
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Mobility Without Borders: inDrive Champions People-First Innovation to Drive Economic Growth at Africa Tech Week
At this year's Africa Tech Week, global mobility innovator inDrive ( took centre stage to present a powerful case for people-driven digital platforms as a catalyst for economic growth in South Africa. inDrive laid out a compelling vision for how this type of transparent and justice lead-technology-enabled mobility is transforming urban life, creating economic opportunity, and fostering inclusion. 'As urbanisation accelerates, mobility is no longer just about travel — it's about access, opportunity, and economic participation,' said Ashif Black, inDrive's country representative. 'Mobility is the backbone of economic activity. When we move people affordably and safely, we move the economy forward.' Transport: South Africa's Overlooked Economic Engine inDrive highlighted the transport sector's vital role in South Africa's economy — accounting for nearly 9% of GDP. With informal and digital transport services increasingly bridging gaps left by public transit, inDrive is important to continue a modern, inclusive policy framework that reflects today's realities and tomorrow's potential. 'There's a major opportunity for stronger collaboration between government and digital platforms like inDrive,' added Black. 'We can build an inclusive, safe, and future-ready mobility ecosystem — but only if we do it together.' A Platform Built to Challenge Injustice Founded on a mission to challenge injustice, inDrive sets itself apart with a people-first model grounded in fairness, transparency, and affordability. Operating across cities including Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, and Mthatha, the platform enables access, income, and options for underserved communities — disrupting the traditional ride-hailing model with purpose. From fare negotiation between riders and drivers to freedom of dispatch and no surge pricing, inDrive puts control back in the hands of users on both sides of the trip. 'Our model gives dignity and power back to the people,' said [Spokesperson]. 'But to scale this innovation sustainably, we need regulatory recognition that values fairness over algorithms.' Driving Economic Participation and Community Growth inDrive's low commission rate of just 9.99% — compared to competitors' 25–30% — ensures more money stays with drivers, many of whom are supporting families, paying tuition, and reinvesting in their communities. Beyond passenger mobility, inDrive now supports courier and freight services, enabling drivers to unlock multiple income streams and support SME logistics through a growing super-app ecosystem. 'This is more than ride-hailing,' added Black. 'It's a platform for economic participation — but to unlock its full potential, we need partnerships that include government and local stakeholders.' Innovating for Safety, Together inDrive is also pioneering tech-enabled safety solutions, including a new anti-crime device pilot for couriers in hotspot areas. Every trip is supported by shared information, community-based ratings, and transparent trip data. 'Safety is a shared responsibility,' said Black. 'We're taking real steps — but real impact will come when platforms, SAPS, regulators, and communities work hand-in-hand.' Real Impact, Real Growth With 7 new city launches in 2024, inDrive is expanding its footprint while offering riders in non-metro areas up to 40% lower trip costs. Courier services are now running in townships — a testament to the platform's accessibility and relevance. 'The demand is clear,' said Black. 'What's needed now is policy enablement, not delay. We've built momentum — let's not lose it.' A Call for Collaborative Regulation inDrive closed its presentation with a call to co-create the future of mobility — with policies that are fair, inclusive, and locally relevant. 'Many have copied what we created — but our values-driven model remains unmatched,' said Black. 'We're not just here to grow. We're here to shape the industry for the better — with regulators, drivers, municipalities, and communities.' As South Africa looks to build smarter cities and unlock inclusive economic growth, inDrive reaffirmed its commitment to being a partner for progress. 'Let's build the future of mobility — together,' concluded Black. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of inDrive. About inDrive: inDrive is a global mobility and urban services platform. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 240 million times and was the second most downloaded mobility app in 2022 and 2023. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of urban services, including intercity transportation and delivery. In 2023, inDrive launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm. inDrive operates in 888 cities in 48 countries. Driven by its mission of challenging social injustice, the company is committed to positively impacting the lives of one billion people by 2030. It pursues this goal through its core business, which supports local communities via a fair pricing model, and through the work of inVision, its non-profit arm. InVision's community empowerment programs help advance education, sports, arts and sciences, gender equality, and other vital initiatives. For more information, visit
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
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!
News24
30-04-2025
- Business
- News24
inDrive supports spazas with free wifi and revamps
This Freedom Day, Soweto isn't merely marking 31 years of democracy — it's embracing a leap into the future. inDrive, the global e-hailing platform, celebrates its sixth-year milestone in South Africa by teaming up with Soweto creatives and local businesses to champion the freedom of movement. While acknowledging the journey that brought us here, inDrive and Soweto are celebrating how far the township has come and what's possible today. 'Soweto is moving, and inDrive is moving with it,' says Ashif Black, Country Representative in South Africa at inDrive. 'Our focus is on freedom of choice – who you ride with, how much you pay, and how you move.' As part of the campaign, inDrive partnered with Soweto-born twin brothers, Fhatuwani and Justice Mukheli of I See A Different You, to create a striking wall mural that stands as a beacon of empowerment and community pride. Alongside this, inDrive has also revamped 14 spaza shops across Soweto — improving these vital local businesses with fresh new branding and providing free WiFi access for their customers, ensuring these community hubs remain connected and accessible. 'These murals and shop revamps are more than aesthetic upgrades – they're direct bridges to opportunity,' adds Black. 'Accessibility, affordability, and authentic local creativity are at the heart of this initiative. By providing free WiFi at these spaza shops, we're supporting the everyday spaces where Sowetans gather, shop, and connect.' This campaign forms part of inDrive's global brand identity, which is centred on the belief that challenging injustice and empowering people through access and choice is essential to driving real change. Across all the markets where it operates, inDrive's mission is to level the playing field — whether through its fair ride-hailing model or through community upliftment projects like this. Now in its sixth year on South African streets, inDrive marks this growth milestone by deepening its commitment in Soweto. Rather than a soft launch, this campaign celebrates cumulative progress: thousands of safe, affordable rides negotiated by riders and drivers alike, and a community embracing choice. With inDrive's peer-to-peer model, this provides freedom of choice for both the passenger and driver with negotiable fares, direct-route options, and transparent driver profiles, everyday commutes become a personalised experience: • Negotiate your fare: Riders suggest what they'll pay, drivers accept – no hidden fees and unexpected hikes. • Choose your route: Direct trips mean less waiting, fewer transfers, more time for what matters. • Select your driver: Profiles, ratings, and preferences put you in control. 'It's simple: freedom of movement is empowerment; we strongly believe in this philosophy, and we also offer the lowest commission fees in the country for drivers, allowing a fair earning,' says Black. 'This translates to great value for our users as they enjoy the freedom to choose how they move. Every ride on inDrive is a vote for choice, fairness, and opportunity.' While Freedom Day commemorates the remarkable journey since April 27, 1994, inDrive's Soweto celebration looks forward. It's not about fixing the past — it's about amplifying the power of mobility today and into the future.
The South African
29-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
inDrive Celebrates Freedom Day by Supporting Soweto's Local Spaza's with Free WiFi and StoreRevamps
inDrive Celebrates Freedom Day by Supporting Soweto's Local Spaza's with Free WiFi and StoreRevamps. Image: Canva Home » inDrive Celebrates Freedom Day by Supporting Soweto's Local Spaza's with Free WiFi and StoreRevamps inDrive Celebrates Freedom Day by Supporting Soweto's Local Spaza's with Free WiFi and StoreRevamps. Image: Canva This Freedom Day, Soweto isn't merely marking 31 years of democracy — it's embracing a leap intothe future. inDrive, the global e-hailing platform, celebrates its sixth-year milestone in South Africaby teaming up with Soweto creatives and local businesses to champion the freedom of acknowledging the journey that brought us here, inDrive and Soweto are celebrating how farthe township has come and what's possible today. 'Soweto is moving, and inDrive is moving with it,'says Ashif Black, Country Representative in South Africa at inDrive. 'Our focus is on freedom of choice – who you ride with, how much you pay, and how you move.' As part of the campaign, inDrive partnered with Soweto-born twin brothers, Fhatuwani and JusticeMukheli of I See A Different You, to create a striking wall mural that stands as a beacon of empowerment and community pride. Alongside this, inDrive has also revamped 14 spaza shops across Soweto — improving these vital local businesses with fresh new branding and providing free WiFi access for their customers, ensuring these community hubs remain connected and accessible. 'These murals and shop revamps are more than aesthetic upgrades – they're direct bridges toopportunity,' adds Black. 'Accessibility, affordability, and authentic local creativity are at the heartof this initiative. By providing free WiFi at these spaza shops, we're supporting the everyday spaces where Sowetans gather, shop, and connect.' This campaign forms part of inDrive's global brand identity, which is centred on the belief that challenging injustice and empowering people through access and choice is essential to driving real change. Across all the markets where it operates, inDrive's mission is to level the playing field —whether through its fair ride-hailing model or through community upliftment projects like in its sixth year on South African streets, inDrive marks this growth milestone by deepening itscommitment in Soweto. Rather than a soft launch, this campaign celebrates cumulative progress:thousands of safe, affordable rides negotiated by riders and drivers alike, and a community embracing choice. With inDrive's peer-to-peer model, this provides freedom of choice for both the passenger anddriver with negotiable fares, direct-route options, and transparent driver profiles, everyday commutes become a personalised experience: Negotiate your fare: Riders suggest what they'll pay, drivers accept – no hidden fees and unexpected hikes Choose your route: Direct trips mean less waiting, fewer transfers, more time for what matters. Select your driver: Profiles, ratings, and preferences put you in control. 'It's simple: freedom of movement is empowerment; we strongly believe in this philosophy, and wealso offer the lowest commission fees in the country for drivers, allowing a fair earning,' says Black.'This translates to great value for our users as they enjoy the freedom to choose how they move. Every ride on inDrive is a vote for choice, fairness, and opportunity.' While Freedom Day commemorates the remarkable journey since April 27, 1994, inDrive's Sowetocelebration looks forward. It's not about fixing the past — it's about amplifying the power of mobility today and into the future.
Zawya
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
inDrive Champions Female Empowerment in South Africa's E-Hailing Industry This International Women's Month
As South Africa continues to grapple with a persistently high unemployment rate, with 35% of women unemployed in the last quarter of 2024, global mobility leader inDrive ( is taking action to drive meaningful change. With a mission to impact 1 billion people globally through challenging injustice, inDrive is committed to increasing female representation in South Africa's e-hailing industry and creating economic opportunities for women. This International Women's Month, inDrive is taking a bold step toward greater inclusivity by setting a target to onboard over 400 female drivers in Cape Town. By creating more earning opportunities for women and meeting the growing demand for female drivers, this initiative seeks to foster a more diverse and equitable ride-hailing industry. Increasing female representation behind the wheel is a key move toward economic empowerment and a more inclusive mobility landscape. Recent research revealed that over 80% of e-hailing passengers would prefer female drivers when given a choice. These findings highlight the critical need for increased female participation in the industry, ensuring more inclusive, and trusted mobility experience for all. 'We understand the barriers women face in accessing employment opportunities in South Africa. Our commitment to increasing female driver participation is just one of the ways we aim to create more equitable opportunities,' said Ashif Black, Country Representative at inDrive South Africa. 'Passengers also have the option to select female drivers, enhancing their control over the ride experience and further empowering women in the industry.' Beyond economic empowerment, inDrive's initiative strengthens trust and confidence in South Africa's ride-hailing services by providing passengers—especially women—with greater choice. As the company continues its global mission to challenge injustice, create opportunities, and redefine fair mobility, it remains steadfast in its commitment to driving gender equality in the transport sector. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of inDrive. Press Contact: Public Relations Manager - inDrive Africa Lineo Thakhisi Phone: +2781 3636 872 Email: About inDrive: inDrive is a global mobility and urban services platform. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 280 million times, and was the second most downloaded mobility app for the third consecutive year. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of urban services, including intercity transportation and delivery. In 2023, inDrive launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm. inDrive operates in 888 cities in 48 countries. Driven by its mission of challenging social injustice, the company is committed to having a positive impact on the lives of one billion people by 2030. It pursues this goal both through its core business, which supports local communities via a fair pricing model; and through the work of inVision, its non-profit arm. inVision's community empowerment programs help to advance education, sports, arts and sciences, gender equality and other vital initiatives. For more information visit
