{
  "id": 11335241,
  "title": "Uber Eats marks 10 years in SA amid questions of impact and inclusion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/uber-eats-marks-10-years-in-sa-amid-questions-of-impact-and-inclusion",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-02T02:12:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/uber-eats-marks-10-years-sa-amid-questions-impact-inclusion/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Uber Eats, the restaurant delivery app launched by Uber, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in South Africa this year. While the company estimates that its platform has created R1.6 billion in additional value for restaurants and saved consumers over 12.7 million hours annually, the milestone also sparks discussions about the broader impact of digital platforms on work, access, and inequality.\n\nSince its debut in Johannesburg in September 2016, Uber Eats has expanded into a nationwide marketplace, connecting restaurants, couriers, and consumers. Ntsoaki Nsibanyoni, the General Manager for Uber Eats South Africa, notes that the platform has become an integral part of how South Africans access goods and services, while simultaneously helping businesses reach more customers and generate flexible income opportunities.\n\nThe company highlights several initiatives aimed at fostering economic inclusion. In partnership with the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Uber Eats has generated over R1 billion in economic value and expanded access to digital infrastructure in townships. Additionally, the platform has introduced the HDP (Historically Disadvantaged People) feature, which showcases restaurants and stores owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. Johannesburg and Pretoria account for the majority of HDP merchants, followed by Cape Town and Durban.\n\nDespite its growth across all nine provinces, Uber Eats acknowledges that its expansion has relied on the participation of merchants and couriers. Nsibanyoni emphasizes the crucial role they have played in shaping the platform's success over the past decade. The company also points to shifts in South African food culture, noting that meals such as fried chicken with pap, chakalaka, malva pudding, and bunny chow have become the most frequently ordered items, with regional preferences evident in dishes like sushi in Cape Town, grilled chicken in Durban, and burgers and peri-peri chicken in Johannesburg and Pretoria.\n\nHowever, the growth of Uber Eats has not been without controversy. Critics of gig-economy platforms often raise concerns about the working conditions of couriers. Labour researchers and unions argue that while the platform presents itself as a flexible earning opportunity, many couriers face long hours, unpredictable demand, and pay structures that leave them vulnerable to economic precarity. Couriers are responsible for expenses such as fuel, data, and vehicle maintenance, yet they lack benefits like medical aid, pensions, or paid leave.\n\nThe milestone of 10 years in operation underscores both the achievements and challenges associated with digital platforms. While Uber Eats has undeniably transformed food delivery and digital commerce in South Africa, it also serves as a focal point for debates surrounding technology's role in enhancing access without compromising worker security.",
  "summary": "The company estimates it has created R1.6 billion in additional value for restaurants and saved consumers more than 12.7 million hours a year.",
  "key_points": [
    "Uber Eats marks 10th anniversary in South Africa",
    "Estimated R1.6 billion additional value for restaurants",
    "HDP feature showcases historically disadvantaged merchants"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Uber Eats' decade in South Africa highlights the trade-offs between economic inclusion and worker security, as the platform's growth sparks both praise for new opportunities and criticism of courier working conditions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}