You can expect your UberX to be in the league of a dependable Toyota Corolla, whereas an UberBlack will be a BMW, Mercedes, or other luxury car. There are two fare tiers UberX, at R7 a kilometre, and UberBlack, at R11 a kilometre. There’s a pin that will automatically pick up your immediate location, though you can move it if you’re booking for someone else. The app will open to a map of your area, with all Uber cars in proximity visible. The app takes a photo of your card, records your details, and then sends you a one-time password to confirm.

It might help to know that Uber doesn’t have access to your data – the details are stored by a third-party company. In South Africa, giving your credit card details to an app is a fairly new idea, and we tend to be skittish about it. Next time you’re agonising over whether you can ask for a lift or should sacrifice hours of your life to public transport systems, here’s how to use Uber safely. In South Africa, Uber drivers only need to provide a professional driver’s permit (which requires police clearance) and attend a half-day training course before being added to the system.Īlthough Uber is not yet active in all South African cities – only Joburg, Cape Town and Durban at present – it’s something more South Africans are considering as an alternative to traditional transport.

How to use uber