inDrive is investigating cases of illegal raise in fares and sexual harassment in Botswana

Drivers who use inDrive’s ride-hailing platform in Botswana are reportedly facing accusations of misconduct, with passengers reporting issues ranging from aggressive behavior to sexual harassment.

inDrive is actively investigating some of these incidents and has already blocked certain drivers based on complaints. Passengers shared their firsthand experiences with TechCabal, which happened to be the first to report the incident.

They mentioned some drivers are demanding higher payments than initially agreed upon through the app. For instance, a 27-year-old passenger named Katso recounted a situation where the driver requested a higher fee than the agreed-upon amount at the end of the ride.

Although the driver eventually relented, he displayed aggressive behaviour. In other cases, drivers attempted to persuade passengers to pay more, citing the high cost of living in the country.

InDrive’s unique feature allows drivers and passengers to negotiate fares instead of relying on algorithms to determine prices. However, reports suggest that some drivers agree to a fee but then demand additional payment upon arrival. There were also unverified reports of a driver physically assaulting a passenger due to a fee disagreement.

Another passenger, Tapiwa, reportedly experienced an unsettling situation when the car that arrived didn’t match the one shown on the app, and a male passenger was already inside.

The driver explained that the male passenger was for his safety, as drivers sometimes fear being robbed. When Tapiwa refused to ride with two men at night, the driver responded rudely, leading her to cancel the ride and find an alternative.

Incidents have been reported on social media as well, including a driver reacting angrily when a passenger canceled their ride, a driver behaving inappropriately during a ride, and drivers with questionable conditions, possibly due to drug use.

Despite the popularity of inDrive among riders and drivers in Gaborone, some incidents involve even highly-rated drivers, making it challenging for passengers to avoid such situations.

inDrive has responded to these complaints by actively investigating and blocking drivers involved in such incidents. They have encouraged passengers to report such cases to take necessary action. However, these incidents have left some passengers hesitant to use the service unless absolutely necessary.

It’s worth noting that in Lesotho, the US-based e-hailing company permits the drivers to keep 100% of their revenues, eliminating the service fee for six months. This no-commission offer is valid for the aforementioned period before reverting to the usual cost.