Youth entrepreneurship and gender dimensions in E-hailing (Bolt) transport services during and post-COVID period in the district of Vhembe, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic held the whole world captive, with many businesses losing their operations. E-hailing transport services were no exception to the challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of transport services and underscored disparities in their provision. On the other hand, the pandemic seems to have opened the door for new and expanded business opportunities in the E-hailing transport services that seem to be thriving. This study seeks to uncover youth entrepreneurship and gender dimensions in E-hailing (Bolt) transport services during and post-COVID period. The window period for this study is between 2019 and 2023, during COVID and post-COVID. Through a qualitative approach, this study explored Youth entrepreneurship and gender dimensions in E-hailing (Bolt) transport services during and post-COVID period in the district of Vhembe, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study uses the empowerment theory and some feminist theories as guiding tools to understand the participation of women in this business venture. These theories are the standpoint theory and the Masculinity theories. The study adopted a qualitative research approach to gather in-depth information on e-hailing transport services. The exploratory research design was used to expose Youth entrepreneurship and gender dimensions in E-hailing (Bolt) transport services. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used to select youth from the age group of 18-35 in the E-hailing transport service sector. The thematic analysis method was adopted in the study to identify patterns of E-hailing services that provided answers to the research questions. Ethical considerations were ensured in the study to ensure that participants were not harmed. The findings of the study are, among others, the lack of safety and restrictions on travel, as well as the highest levels of unemployment, which resulted from the closure of many companies due to the pandemic. The study's findings show that there is a prevalent gender wage gap which is often linked to differences in driver experience and productivity. Barriers to women’s participation in the transport sector are present within each stage of the employment lifecycle, including in relation to women’s attraction, recruitment, and retention; policies and practices in the workplace; and leadership and career progression. Legal approaches to enhance women's participation in e-hailing services should focus on creating safer and more equitable environments for both drivers and passengers. This includes addressing gender-based violence, promoting equal pay, and ensuring robust legal protections against harassment and discrimination.