Uber is increasing fares 5% from today

Car-on-demand service Uber has announced it’s increasing fares for South African consumers by 5%. The new rates come into effect today. Given the stratospheric rise in the price of fuel this year, the only surprise is that it’s taken so long.

In a blog post about the move posted on Friday, the company says the new rates will help drivers “continue to maintain a sustainable living while using the Uber App” and that the change in fare prices “will allow driver-partners to earn more in order to make up for the rising cost of business and living expenses that affects their earnings”.

For consumers, meanwhile, it says the increases will allow Uber to “invest even more in the technology features that make your Uber experience a seamless one”. These include the safety tools the company has introduced in recent years, “including emergency assistance, rider insurance coverage and trusted contacts”.

Rates for vans, which the company calls UberXL, remain unchanged for Johannesburg, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth. The full rates follow below: