Global ride-hailing platform Uber has pledged to invest R5 billion ($300
million) in South Africa over the next few years, targeting mobility, delivery
and digital platform growth as it deepens its presence across Africa.
- Uber
has committed to investing R5 billion ($300 million) in South Africa,
focusing on mobility, delivery, and digital platform growth. - Part
of the funds will go toward expanding services like Uber Moto, supporting
electric vehicles, and developing solutions tailored to South African
needs. - Uber
is also supporting township businesses through digitization and
partnerships to enhance their access to digital commerce and delivery
logistics. - The
investment aims to create more earning opportunities for drivers, delivery
partners, and small businesses while supporting job creation.
The commitment, announced during the South Africa Investment
Conference (SAIC), is expected to expand earning opportunities for drivers,
delivery partners and small businesses, while supporting the country’s broader
push to attract investment and stimulate employment.
Uber’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Deepesh
Thomas, said the conference marked a shift from announcements to
implementation, with a focus on how investments affect everyday economic
activity.
“At Uber, we believe that the true measure of an investment
is not the figure typed into a spreadsheet, but the heartbeat of the economy it
sustains,” said Thomas.
“It is found in the student in Mamelodi reaching an exam on
time; the restaurant owner in Soweto reaching new customers via a digital
storefront, and the driver-partner building a family legacy, one trip at a
time.”
Thomas added that the commitment reflects confidence in
South Africa’s entrepreneurial culture and contributes to the country’s target
of mobilising more than R2 trillion in new investment.
Uber said more than 100,000 earners already use its platform
in South Africa, with the new investment aimed at lowering barriers to entry
through incentives such as fuel support, vehicle financing models and
partnerships.
Africa expansion and platform growth
The investment comes as Uber continues expanding across
African markets, where ride-hailing and delivery platforms are increasingly
viewed as sources of income in economies with high youth unemployment.
Uber currently operates in several African countries
including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal
and Egypt, among others, and has rolled out services such as Uber Moto and
delivery offerings in selected markets to address last-mile mobility
challenges.
The company has increasingly focused on deepening operations
within existing markets, expanding into secondary cities such as Owerri and
Akure in Nigeria, and Tamale and Sunyani in Ghana.
However, Uber has also adjusted its footprint in parts of
the continent.
The company shut down operations in Tanzania on January 30,
2026, ending nearly a decade-long presence, citing a regulatory environment
that made long-term profitability increasingly difficult, alongside strong
competition from rivals such as Bolt and Little.
Uber has since signalled interest in re-entering Morocco and
expanding into Rwanda to meet growing demand in East Africa.
With South Africa attracting some of the continent’s largest
investment commitments, part of the latest R5 billion (about $300 million)
pledge will fund innovation tailored to local conditions, including the
expansion of motorcycle services and investment in electric vehicles.
“We are expanding Uber Moto to provide affordable, last-mile
connectivity in areas where traditional public transport may not reach,” said
Thomas.
“We are also doubling down on our ‘Green’ initiatives,
partnering with fleet providers to accelerate the rollout of Electric Vehicles
and alternative vehicle financing models, such as our work with Moove.” –
Business Insider Africa