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Uber’s new service lets riders pay cash in South Africa, but it’s creating huge tensions with traditional taxi drivers in the country, and some Uber drivers say they fear for their safety.
Uber added the cash option in South Africa in May to lure riders who either don’t have credit cards or don’t want to enter their information into the app, says Uber’s general manager for sub-Saharan Africa, Alon Lits, the Wall Street Journal reports. “When you see the market potential that cash unlocks, it’s very hard to ignore that,” Alon says.
But Uber drivers aren't so sure—more than a dozen drivers interviewed by the Wall Street Journal said the cash option is increasing intimidation and violence from taxi drivers. “Uber cash is putting our lives at risk,” says one Uber driver in Johannesburg. [WSJ]
