An African adage says, “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”.

This is the case of the Bolt drivers caught in the online battle between South Africans and Nigerians.

The Bolt ordering battle between Nigerians and South Africans may have been a virtual game of one-upmanship for the participants.

However, it has real-world consequences for the drivers caught in the middle.

These drivers, who rely on e-hailing platforms like Bolt and Uber to earn their livelihoods found themselves bearing the brunt of a conflict they had no part in initiating.

The negative impacts on Bolt drivers were significant and multifaceted.

It will affect their income, mental health, and overall job satisfaction.

Loss of Income

The most immediate impact on Bolt drivers was the loss of income.

Every time a ride was booked and then canceled, drivers wasted valuable time and fuel.

This directly cut into their earnings.

E-hailing drivers typically operate on tight margins, and a string of canceled rides can significantly reduce their daily income.

Fuel Costs

Beyond just the financial loss, these cancellations also meant wasted resources.

Fuel costs are one of the biggest expenses for Bolt drivers, and driving to a pick-up location only to have the ride canceled is not only frustrating but costly.

In some cases, drivers may have traveled long distances.

Also, this further add to the waste of time and resources.

Stress And Frustration

The uncertainty and unpredictability created by these mass cancellations led to increased stress and frustration among Bolt drivers.

Knowing that a significant number of rides might be canceled added an element of anxiety to their workday.

This stress will be compounded by the fact that the cancellations were not due to any fault of the drivers but rather the result of an online conflict they had no control over.

The sense of being used as pawns in a broader conflict between nations can lead to a decline in job satisfaction.

Furthermore, drivers feeling undervalued and exploited.

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Over time, this could result in a higher turnover rate.

Drivers might leave the platform for more stable and predictable forms of employment.

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