World’s largest ride-hailing company pledges over $300 million investment in Africa’s largest economy

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.”