Three South African ride‑hailing services – OMN1, Bro Cabs and Wanatu – are each testing distinct approaches to driver pay and safety as they compete with Uber and Bolt.

OMN1’s Move app, operating in parts of Johannesburg, will charge a flat 15 % commission, leaving drivers with 85 % of each fare and avoiding tiered reward schemes.

Bro Cabs, founded by Percy Qamata and partners, replaces per‑trip commissions with a subscription fee of R30 per day, R150 per week or R600 per month, giving drivers a predictable platform cost.

Wanatu operates a company‑owned fleet in Pretoria, employing drivers and equipping vehicles with forward‑facing and inward‑facing cameras, 24‑hour control‑room radios, panic buttons and live in‑car feeds for passenger reassurance.

All three platforms have secured registration certificates from South Africa’s National Public Transport Regulator, while Uber’s application remains pending.

OMN1 aims to broaden its offering beyond rides, integrating food delivery, messaging and a creator programme that pays eligible users 20 cents per point up to R50 000 a month.

Bro Cabs reported a driver base of more than 1,000 by July 2026, though activity levels and trip volumes have not been independently verified.

The subscription model shifts demand risk to drivers, who must cover the fee even when bookings are low, whereas a commission model scales costs with earnings.

Wanatu’s fleet ownership brings higher capital and operational overhead, requiring sufficient passenger demand to keep vehicles utilized and to cover maintenance costs.

Analysts note that lower driver commissions alone will not guarantee success; platforms must also attract enough fare‑paying passengers at prices they are willing to pay.