Uber Eats, Sixty60 deliveries grounded as anti-migrant protests empty South Africa's roads

As I scrolled through my Twitter feed on Tuesday, I noticed a peculiar trend: empty roads. The usually bustling streets of South Africa's major cities were eerily quiet, and it wasn't just the usual traffic congestion that was to blame. The country's e-commerce economy had come to a grinding halt, thanks to anti-migrant protests that forced businesses to shut down and delivery riders to stay home. For those who rely on apps like Uber Eats and Sixty60, it was a day of lost deliveries and missed orders.

The disruption revealed a structural vulnerability in South Africa's platform economy, where ride-hailing, food delivery, and grocery apps rely heavily on migrant workers to fulfil orders. The Africa Diaspora Forum (ADF), an umbrella organisation of migrant organisations living in South Africa, highlighted the issue with its secretary, Nqabutho Mabhena. "Tuesday's events showed just how dependent South Africa's platform economy has become on migrant workers," he said. When riders, who are mainly foreigners, stay home because they fear for their safety, the entire value chain is affected. The impact was significant, with many people unable to receive their orders.

In a statement to TechCabal, Uber South Africa acknowledged the situation and prioritised the safety of its drivers and riders. "The safety of everyone who uses the Uber platform remains a top priority," the company said. Drivers and delivery people can decline or cancel trips or deliveries where they feel unsafe without penalty. This safety-first policy may have prevented more severe disruptions, but it also underscored the risks facing an industry built on on-demand logistics. With demonstrations escalating into violence, platforms were forced to choose between speed and safety.

The protests and their impact on the delivery sector exposed a deeper issue: the reliance on migrant workers. As Mabhena observed, many locals seem not to be involved in this industry. The reliance on foreign nationals has become a structural vulnerability in South Africa's platform economy, making it vulnerable to disruptions like these protests. The country's e-commerce sector is built on a fragile foundation, one that threatens to collapse if not addressed.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the protests and their impact on the delivery sector have raised questions about the future of South Africa's e-commerce industry. Will the sector be able to adapt to these new challenges, or will it continue to rely on migrant workers?