Yango and ministry host safety, compliance drive

E-HAILING platform Yango is collaborating with Namibian authorities and local fleet partners to ensure full regulatory compliance, public passenger permit adherence, and enhanced commuter safety.

Yango Group in Africa vice president and head of public policy Zanyiwe Asare said this at a media conference on Friday.
“We’re here today to clarify our ongoing efforts of ensuring our digital platform operates in harmony with the laws of Namibia,” she said.

Asare said Yango provides a bridge between passengers and transport providers through cutting-edge technology.

“However, we recognise that being a technology provider does not absolve us of the responsibility to foster a safe and legal ecosystem.

We’ve heard the concerns raised regarding public passenger permits,” she said.

“We’re actively working with our independent fleet partners to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements set by the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Our goal is a 100% seamless service, to provide affordable mobility, and earning opportunities for Namibians,” she said, adding that they are in continuous dialogue with the relevant authorities to ensure the platform remains a benchmark for safety and reliability in Windhoek.

Asare said Yango does not own cars or employ drivers directly, but partners with local vehicle owners and companies who employ the drivers.

“There are thousands of drivers on our platforms, but our model focuses on our relationship with local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and currently, we have about 25 local SMEs which control their own fleets,” she said.

Among these are Modern Tours and Transfers, JTP Tours and Transfers, Pascal Tours and Transfers, Hannes and Eve, and Umaja Tours and Transfers, who were all represented at the event.

Asare said having a compliant and regulated arena is one of Yango’s goals, driving engagement with the transport and other ministries.

She said the one integral component in various markets around the continent is that they are regulated markets where Yango collaborates with the government to ensure safety.

“So we as Yango are looking forward to investing more in Namibia and ensuring we play our part to develop the ecosystem,” she said.
Asare said to enhance public safety and weed out fake Yango drivers, the app does a random photo check of driving licences.

“The moment the photo check doesn’t match, it blocks the driver. So any ride that occurs outside of a blocked app is not a Yango ride,” she said.

She said passengers can also report the condition of a vehicle, including roadworthiness and cleanliness, through the app.
If the reports are found to be true, the driver would be removed from the system.

Asare said they also depend on the police to remove unroadworthy vehicles from the roads.

Josef Likoro of Yango partner JTP tours and Safaris at the conference said the companies also ensure their drivers have proper documentation to be on the roads.

A representative of Oumar Tours and Safari complained that the ministry was rejecting applications for permits when applicants are foreigners or refugees, who therefore cannot own cars or acquire permits.

“However, these people came to Namibia legally and they have proper documentation. Some are married and have work permits,” he said.

Asare said these issues should be taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, but urged partners to continue applying for permits.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na

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