A new e-hailing company in South Africa, Wanatu, has stirred up quite a bit of controversy.
Known as the country’s first “Afrikaans Uber,” Wanatu’s business model has raised serious concerns over potential discrimination.
The company, which operates primarily in Centurion and Pretoria, requires all its drivers to speak Afrikaans fluently—a policy that has sparked criticism from labor law experts and advocacy groups.
Criticism from Legal Experts
Labor law specialist Craig Kirchmann expressed his concerns about the company’s language requirement.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Kirchmann argued that the rule could be seen as clear discrimination against those who do not speak Afrikaans.
He questioned the necessity of Afrikaans fluency for an e-hailing job, especially when communication with a driver can often occur in other languages, such as English, which is commonly spoken across South Africa.
Kirchmann emphasized that a policy like this risks perpetuating discrimination, which has been a sensitive issue in the country for years.
Legal Implications for Wanatu
According to the legal team at Werksmans Attorneys, Wanatu’s hiring criteria may violate both the South African Constitution and the Employment Equity Act.
These laws prohibit discrimination based on language unless the requirement can be proven to be justifiable and essential for the job.
Wanatu faces a legal challenge in justifying its Afrikaans-only driver policy, as the company would need to prove that language proficiency is critical for the role, which many experts believe will be difficult to argue in court.
Why Afrikaans? The Company’s Rationale
Wanatu’s founders explain that the decision to limit employment to Afrikaans-speaking individuals stems from a desire to create job opportunities within the Afrikaans-speaking community, which they believe has faced significant job losses in recent years.
Director Van Rooy van den Berg shared his thoughts on Jacaranda FM, explaining that offering “dignified” jobs is key to making people feel valued.
He argues that this initiative is meant to restore the dignity of the Afrikaans-speaking South African community.
However, it’s important to note that while drivers are required to speak Afrikaans, passengers are not bound by this same rule.
Wanatu’s primary customers include schoolchildren, businesspeople, and the elderly, and its services range from school transport to airport shuttles.
The Growing Popularity of Wanatu
Since its launch in October 2024, Wanatu has managed to attract close to 100 drivers and around 30,000 subscribers.
High-profile individuals like actress Reandi Grey and former Springbok player Victor Matfield have also joined the service, which uses Toyota Corolla Cross HEV hybrid electric vehicles.
While the service has gained traction, it remains to be seen whether the controversy surrounding its hiring policies will affect its long-term success.
The Bigger Picture: Should Language Be a Hiring Criterion?
The ongoing debate about Wanatu’s Afrikaans-only driver requirement touches on broader issues of language, discrimination, and employment equity in South Africa.
Many are asking whether it’s fair for an employer to base hiring decisions on language fluency, especially when it could exclude a large portion of the population from potential job opportunities.
As the discussion unfolds, the company may face mounting pressure to reconsider its hiring practices or provide a more convincing argument for its language-based policy.
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