Scores of Bolt commuters were left stranded yesterday, when thousands of drivers went offline and protested against its new affordable service, Bolt Go.

After successfully operating in Durban and signing up 3 000 partner drivers, locally-developed Taxi Live Africa expands to Gauteng.

The South African E-hailing Association and the E-hailing Operators Interim Committee are demanding the halt of Bolt’s new low-cost service, Bolt Go.

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula says the ministry is engaging government stakeholders on assisting e-hailing companies with coronavirus financial aid.

The ride-hailing company plans to install protection measures in a further 4 000 vehicles registered on its platform.

The ride-hailing firm looks to scale its food delivery, taxi-hailing and micro-mobility arms after securing funding from Naya Capital.

The majority of SA’s gig workers lost their jobs entirely during lockdown, while those able to work have on average lost four-fifths of their income.

Ride-hailing operators and drivers fear their vehicles will be repossessed if government doesn’t provide financial support during the lockdown.

The “Uber for trucks and bakkies” platform witnesses an uptick in essential goods transported across the country.

While e-hailing services will not be allowed to operate normally for the duration of the 21-day lockdown, they will be permitted to ferry essential services staff.

The transport department will submit a Bill that will see e-hailing service providers being fined for allowing unlicensed drivers to operate.

Analysts believe the gig economy can alleviate the problem of joblessness in the country, which is at its highest rate since 2008.