Uber Cape Town has launched an online petition in a bid to pressure the Western Cape government to speed up the process of issuing vehicle operating permits to its drivers, with 15,000 people having signed it so far.

The global company has had a number of problems in Cape Town of late, with over 200 Uber cars impounded in Cape Town this year alone due to drivers lacking the necessary metered taxi permits, a requirement Uber has questioned the need for.

Uber said though it is abiding by the requirements, there was still no clear route to obtaining the permits, and a process that should take only a few weeks has been “dragging on” for over six months.

The company said operating licenses have been issued to large metered taxi fleet operators, but no Uber partner had yet received their permit, prompting the launch of the petition.

“Regulation in the Western Cape, aggressive intimidation, and impoundments are threatening job creation and preventing Uber driver partners from offering safe and reliable rides,” Uber said.

The petition has already garnered 15,000 signatures, with Uber arguing it is a new type of service, using technology as a mechanism to build a more efficient transport option. It said it is seeking a clear route for its driver partners to obtain vehicle operating permits.

“As there is still no clear route to obtaining vehicle operating permits for Uber driver partners, we have made the decision to continue to focus our efforts on ensuring riders have access to a safe and reliable transport option, and drivers have access to increased economic opportunity,” the company said.

In a statement released yesterday, the Western Cape government said it was still considering a number of applications from Uber partner drivers and would make the relevant decisions next week.

"The Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) in the department of Transport and Public Works is currently considering 343 applications for operating licences which have been supported by the City of Cape Town, 201 of which are applications from Uber partners," said the province.

"Regarding the current batch, the PRE must apply itself to each and every application. This is as important for commuter safety as it is for the responsible management of the meter taxi industry. It is essential that operations within the industry are regularised to promote fairness and to avoid conflict.”