Popps on negotiating your ride, and why SA needs fairer transport options

South African comedian, TV host, and actor Mpho Popps Modikoane has taken on a new national role as the face of inDrive’s latest campaign.

Best known as the host of Masked Singer South Africa and fresh from winning Comedian of the Year at the 11th Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards, Modikoane called his collaboration with inDrive a milestone not only in his career but also in his personal life.

“This campaign is special for me,” he said during an inDrive ride-along with IOL. 

While Modikoane’s face appears on billboards, taxis, and buses, the real highlight is sharing it with others.

“My involvement with inDrive is twofold,” he explains. “I get to do it with my good friend, Skhumba, and my daughter. It’s her first big campaign. That makes it even more special,” he said, referencing fellow comedian Skhumba Hlophe’s involvement in the inDrive campaign. 

He describes the shoot as a milestone: "I'm working with my boy, and I get to share this moment with my daughter. For inDrive to come through, that’s huge.”

A ride-hailing system built on negotiation

InDrive’s biggest differentiator among e-hailing competitors is its fare negotiation model: the passenger proposes a price, and drivers accept or counteroffer. Modikoane describes this as refreshingly real.

“I’m used to requesting a trip and having to take whatever I get,” he said.

“With inDrive, you put out what you can afford, and drivers decide if it works for them.”

He explains that in certain neighbourhoods, short trips are often ignored on other platforms.

“With inDrive, because you set the price and drivers choose, it makes sense for everybody.”

But fairness is key: “You can’t be ridiculous. You know what a trip should cost. But sometimes you only have a certain amount - and South Africans negotiate everything. Now you can negotiate right from the start.”

Why negotiation matters in South Africa’s economy

Modikoane believes inDrive’s model matches the unpredictability of South African life.

“Our economy is up, it’s down, one minute Trump loves us, next minute he doesn’t,” he joked.

“As South Africans, we take punches daily. We need systems that move with us. This mechanism lets us adapt.”

A safe and comfortable ride matters

Modikoane emphasised how much the driver's experience influences a trip.

“With any ride, the key thing is the driver. Attitude matters. Our driver today was warm, chilled, funny, and welcoming. And in South Africa, we have trust issues - so that really matters.”

Cleanliness is also a big factor: “You never know where someone’s going - a job interview, a meeting. The car has to feel safe and hygienic.”

“And shout-out to drivers whose steering wheels are straight. Sometimes you get into other rides and the steering wheel is sideways while the car is going,” he added.

Accessible transport for everyone

For Modikoane, accessibility isn't just a feature - it’s a necessity, he said. Times have shifted since e-hailing services were considered ultra-premium.

“These services should be for everyone. Accessibility is important,” he added.

Modikoane said that he values that inDrive eases the financial pressure on everyday commuters: “Travelling shouldn’t be expensive. Commuting shouldn’t be expensive. Things like Wi-Fi and transport should be accessible. What I like about inDrive is how it opens the market to people who need affordable, reliable trips.”

From award-winning stand-up to high-profile TV gigs, Modikoane has built a career on connecting with people. His new campaign with inDrive is no different - personal, meaningful, and filled with the wit he’s known for.

Modikoane said that he sees inDrive as more than a ride-hailing app, but a flexible, fair, human-centred system designed for the realities of South African life.