By Mapaballo Borotho
- A new women-only e-hailing service has launched in Johannesburg to prioritise women’s safety.
- Founder Lumka Oliphant says DriveHer was created in response to rising GBV concerns and unsafe experiences on existing transport platforms.
- The service uses female drivers and identity verification measures to create safer journeys for women.
Former Department of Social Development employee Lumka Oliphant has launched a new shuttle service designed exclusively for women in South Africa.
The launch comes as Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to rise in the country, with women and children remaining the most affected by the ongoing crisis.
At the same time, many women say they constantly fear for their safety, with some having experienced abuse or threats while using existing e-hailing services.
DriveHer is a women-only ride service operating in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, with a focus on promoting the safety and protection of women.
Oliphant said the idea was inspired by the urgent need to contribute to women’s safety in South Africa.
“With Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) numbers skyrocketing, and women recently demanding and winning that GBVF be declared a national disaster, DriveHer combines trusted female drivers, comfort, and pre-scheduled convenience to give every woman confidence and safety in every journey,” she said.
To safeguard the service, Oliphant explained that both riders and drivers are verified using ID numbers to confirm gender. All bookings are also confirmed via WhatsApp, followed by a phone call.
“Your ID number is unique and there is a certain number that can tell you the gender of a person, and it is not the last digit as many people think,” she said.
Oliphant added that she specifically chose airport routes because she wanted to avoid competing directly with taxis and other e-hailing services that mainly focus on shorter trips.
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