Uber rolls out new driver support ecosystem to cut costs and boost earnings in South Africa

For thousands of South Africans who drive for Uber every day, the job is more than just a side hustle, it’s a livelihood. But rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs and insurance premiums have made it increasingly difficult for drivers to keep their businesses profitable.

Now, **Uber South Africa says it is stepping in with a new support ecosystem designed to ease those financial pressures and help drivers grow their income.

The ride-hailing giant recently unveiled a series of partnerships with major companies across the country, aimed at tackling some of the biggest cost challenges drivers face.

The announcement was made at Uber’s flagship event, “The Heart of the City,” which celebrated top-performing drivers on the platform while introducing new tools meant to strengthen their earning potential.

A network of partners aimed at cutting driver costs

The new ecosystem brings together several industry players, including Telesure, Dunlop, Kilomita, and Shoprite.

Each partner addresses a different part of the financial puzzle that drivers deal with daily.

Fuel and vehicle upkeep remain two of the largest expenses in the ride-hailing business. Through its partnership with Kilomita, drivers will gain access to fuel savings designed to reduce their everyday operating costs. Meanwhile, Dunlop will offer tyre discounts to help lower maintenance expenses.

Insurance another major hurdle for gig workers is also part of the plan. With support from Telesure, drivers will have access to insurance products tailored specifically for ride-hailing professionals.

For many drivers who support families across borders, the Shoprite partnership adds another layer of support by offering discounted funeral insurance and more affordable cross-border money transfers.

New income streams beyond driving

Uber’s new ecosystem doesn’t just focus on cutting costs it also introduces ways for drivers to increase their income.

Through a collaboration with ROHM Media, drivers will be able to install digital advertising screens on top of their vehicles.

These taxi-top screens display advertisements during trips, creating an additional revenue stream. According to Uber, drivers could earn up to R5,000 a month from this feature alone.

For many drivers juggling fuel prices and vehicle repayments, that extra income could make a noticeable difference.

Making vehicle ownership more accessible

Another part of the ecosystem focuses on helping drivers move from renting vehicles to owning them.

Through SmartOps vehicle financing, drivers will have access to financing and ownership models designed specifically for ride-hailing work.

The idea is to help drivers build long-term assets instead of relying on short-term rental arrangements, which can often eat into their earnings.

Uber says this approach allows drivers to scale their operations sustainably while maintaining financial stability.

Mental health and wellbeing support

Driving long hours in busy cities can take a toll, both physically and mentally. Recognising this, Uber has also introduced a partnership with October Health.

The platform provides drivers with digital tools focused on mental wellbeing, stress management and professional development.

This aspect of the ecosystem reflects a growing conversation around mental health within the gig economy an issue that has often gone overlooked.

Safety remains a key priority

Driver safety was another major focus of the announcement.

Uber highlighted its ongoing partnership with Aura, which integrates a panic button directly into the Uber app.

If drivers encounter an emergency, they can trigger the feature to connect instantly with armed response, medical services or roadside assistance. Trip details are shared in real time to help responders reach drivers quickly.

The service is available at no additional cost to drivers.

Celebrating drivers behind the wheel

The event where the ecosystem was launched also served as a moment of recognition for the people powering the platform.

Top-performing drivers from across South Africa were honoured, including the platform’s Driver of the Year, who received a new electric vehicle from Valternative, one of Uber’s fleet partners.

For many attendees, the celebration was a rare moment in an industry where drivers often feel invisible despite being central to the service.

A bigger picture for the gig economy

According to Deepesh Thomas, the goal of the new ecosystem is to strengthen the economic value of driving on the platform.

By negotiating large-scale partnerships, Uber hopes to reduce operational costs and make the platform more sustainable for drivers.

Every trip on the app, he noted, represents a small but important piece of economic activity from fuel purchases to car servicing and family remittances.

How drivers are reacting

On social media and driver forums, early reactions have been cautiously optimistic.

Some drivers welcomed the discounts and financing options, saying rising fuel prices and vehicle costs have squeezed profits in recent years.

Others say the real test will be how accessible these benefits are in practice.

“If it actually reduces our costs, it’s a good move,” one South African driver wrote in an online discussion group. “But drivers need real savings, not just announcements.”

Why this move matters

Ride-hailing platforms have become an important part of South Africa’s urban transport system, especially in cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban where commuters rely heavily on app-based rides.

But the model has also faced criticism around driver earnings and sustainability.

By building a broader support ecosystem, Uber appears to be responding to those concerns while trying to strengthen its relationship with the drivers who keep the platform running.

Whether the initiative truly improves drivers’ bottom lines will likely become clearer in the months ahead.

For now, the message from Uber is simple: the company wants drivers not just to keep working, but to build businesses that can last.

{Source: IOL}

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