E-hailing services such as Uber, Bolt, and InDrive have become a daily necessity for many South Africans, offering a convenient alternative to traditional transport. However, as reliance on these platforms grows, so do the risks faced by both drivers and passengers.
Concerns over hijackings, robberies, fake profiles, and dangerous pick-up zones are increasing, with many questioning how safe e-hailing really is in South Africa, and what’s being done to protect both those behind the wheel and those in the back seat.
Speaking to VOC News, Western Cape E-hailing Association (WCEA) Chairperson Siyabonga Hlabisa highlighted the growing dangers.
“E-hailing has become essential, especially for people working odd hours or living far from public transport routes. But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing,” he said.
Hlabisa acknowledged that while the platforms have improved urban mobility, safety remains a major concern.
“There are fake driver accounts, passengers targeting drivers, and incidents where riders are scammed by untraceable profiles. It’s hard to say e-hailing is safe when these challenges are a daily reality,” he noted.
Driver safety is a critical issue.
“We get reports almost daily of drivers being robbed, hijacked, or even killed. Just yesterday, I received a video of a driver who was stabbed inside his vehicle,” Hlabisa shared. He recalled the case of an Uber driver killed in Cape Town after being mistaken for a criminal while waiting for a passenger.
Hlabisa criticised both e-hailing companies and law enforcement for not doing enough.
“We’ve tried to engage with app companies to stop sending drivers into high-risk areas. But profit often comes before safety,” he said.
The WCEA is now launching a safety campaign, collaborating with Community Policing Forums (CPFs) to identify and mark no-go zones for drivers. “Communities know who the perpetrators are, yet SAPS do little. We need the public’s support to protect drivers and passengers alike,” Hlabisa emphasised.
The association plans to demand that e-hailing platforms blacklist dangerous pick-up zones and stop forcing drivers into unsafe areas.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: Pixabay
