The Best and the Worst Gig Platforms in South Africa

Many people find it very convenient to order an Uber, get take-away meals, or hire somebody to clean their house, at the click of a cellphone button. But how much do we actually know about the people behind the gig jobs – the gig workers who make our lives so much easier?

Rating platforms per job or sector

The Fairwork organisation has a system of rating platforms per job or sector, and per country, on an annual basis. They focus on five criteria: fair pay, fair working conditions, fair contracts, fair management and fair representation. An overall score is recorded each year for gig economy platforms in South Africa – and platform companies are encouraged to improve the areas where they have scored badly.

In terms of this rating system, the platform that scored the best marks in South Africa for 2022 (2023 is still to be scored) was the domestic work app SweepSouth, with 7 out of 10. They have made a commitment to re-structure their contracts, to reorganise the content, and simplify the language to make terms and conditions clearer for workers. They have also changed their terms and conditions to include the process for workers to appeal low ratings, non-payment, payment issues, deactivations, and other penalties and disciplinary actions. And they made a public statement in 2021 confirming their willingness to engage in collective bargaining, which they published in a blog. SweepSouth have now agreed to find a better way of conveying this commitment to platform workers.

Worst companies to work for in South Africa

On the other end of the scale, three platforms scored 0 out of 10 – Droppa, SecretAgent and InDriver. Earning 1 out of 10 were Bolt and PicUp. Well known brands Uber and UberEats each scored 2 out of 10, while MrD came in second with 6 out of 10.

According to Fairwork, "in South Africa, digital labour platforms hold the potential to reduce the extremely high levels of unemployment and inequality. However, the annual South African Fairwork ratings also provide evidence that platform workers, as in so many countries worldwide, continue to face unfair work conditions and lack the benefits and protections afforded to employees."

You can visit the Fairwork website to find out more about the organisation and the gig economy.