“I’m Confused”: Wanatu, E-hailing Service for Afrikaans Drivers, Gets Mixed Responses From SA

• Wanatu, an e-hailing service, aims to "restore the dignity" of the Afrikaans-speaking community by hiring drivers who speak the language
• The South African company, which had launched late last year, operates in Centurion and Pretoria
• While some people loved the idea of having Afrikaans-speaking drivers, others weren't keen on the idea

Today's fast-paced world requires innovation and often demands fresh and unconventional ideas to address unique challenges.

In South Africa, entrepreneurs launched a new e-hailing service designed specifically for drivers who speak one of the country's official languages, sparking an online debate about its inclusivity.

Afrikaans e-hailing service for drivers

Launching late last year, the e-hailing service Wanatu (based on the Afrikaans expression 'waarnatoe') is dedicated to Afrikaans-speaking drivers to "restore the dignity" of the community.

While it takes people from Point A to Point B in Centurion and Pretoria, it also offers school transportation and airport shuttle services.

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Wanatu deems itself as a safe e-hailing service, humorously adding on its website that it's as trustworthy as Grandma's pancake recipe.

Another woman shared a picture of the branded vehicle online. She captioned the image:

The new Afrikaans Uber service. Well done, well done! I have the greatest admiration for people with the gift of creativity. The name is a good example."

Take a look at the X post below:

Wanatu gets jumbled reactions from Mzansi

Many South African online users who saw the above post expressed their thoughts about the new e-hailing service. While some thought it was an innovative and good idea, the concept had a few people raising their eyebrows and going down the racial route.

@brendaj93288581, who thought Wanatu was a wonderful idea, pointed out:

"We need this in Cape Town, too!"

@SimplyMegszcpt wrote to the public:

"What is an Afrikaans Uber service? I'm confused here. Is it just for a certain area?"

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@dr_chrisho_ wondered in the comments:

"Does it also carry black Africans?"

@Ruan_K1 told the online community:

"I travelled with them the other day. Never felt so safe and relaxed. The friendliest staff, too."

Not a fan of the concept, @renierferreira stated:

"[It puts a] target on your back, as well as the driver's. Stupid idea."

@CojayAllday turned their thought into a question, writing:

"Why do Afrikaans people like isolating themselves?"

@mitch_duplessis added in the comment section:

"And now comes all the race and language baiting. Why can't people just be happy that there is a new option in town? We should be celebrating entrepreneurship in all forms."

3 Other stories about e-hailing services

• An e-hailing driver and his passenger got into a heated argument over a trip payment. The customer insisted on paying less, which disgruntled the driver.
• A Cape Town e-hailing driver gained access to one of his customers' credit cards and allegedly stole R650 000. Many online users expressed disappointment.
• A young man got candid about the struggles that e-hailing drivers face. He revealed how and why drivers are forced to enter areas deemed unsafe.

Source: Briefly News