Women in South Africa now have the ability to choose women drivers only when they request an Uber.
The ride-type, called Women Drivers, is available exclusively to women users.
“Women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips,” the company said.
“We’ve heard them – and now we’ve introduced new ways to give them even more control over how they ride and drive.”
E-hailing is popular for its convenience and cost-effectiveness, but it also carries risks – from theft and harassment to assault and even abduction.
Earlier this month, a woman primary school teacher in Stellenbosch narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping by her Uber driver.
The incident has reignited concerns about passenger safety, particularly for women.
Women Drivers: A priority on safety
Once activated in the app, Women Drivers ensures that only women drivers are matched to their trip requests. Even if a male companion is travelling along, the booking won’t be accepted under this option unless the driver is comfortable too.
Uber Sub-Saharan Africa general manager, Deepesh Thomas, said the feature is designed to boost confidence and peace of mind for women on the move.
“It’s a simple update in the app, but one that delivers a significant boost in confidence, peace of mind, and control over how women move through their cities,” Thomas added.
The product builds on testing in countries such as the US and France, but has been adapted for South Africa, where safety concerns around e-hailing remain high.
Local woman drivers also stand to benefit by gaining access to more ride requests from women who prefer female drivers.
Here’s how it works:
- The option only appears for women riders, who must indicate their gender when signing up to the app.
- Women drivers can see when a request comes through this feature, allowing them to choose trips with women riders only.
- Drivers may cancel at no cost if they feel uncomfortable – for example, if a rider is joined by a male passenger.
The new offering joins Uber’s existing suite of in-app safety tools such as GPS tracking, Share My Trip, and 24/7 emergency support.
Beaten to it by Bolt
Uber isn’t the first to launch women-only rides in South Africa. Rival service Bolt introduced a similar option back in 2021, and local startups like Kgosigadi Rides and Wanatu cater exclusively to women riders.
With the government also tightening regulations around e-hailing safety, Uber’s new feature reflects a wider shift toward safer, more inclusive transport in the country.
