Family abandoned after robbery during e-hailing trip to Durban
Key points:
- A Durban mother and her daughters faced a gunpoint robbery by an e-hailing driver.
- The driver stole R8,000 and abandoned the family after the robbery.
- Past cases continue to highlight growing concerns over e-hailing passenger safety.
Family faces terrifying ordeal after booking a ride to Durban
An e-hailing driver held a mother and her two daughters at gunpoint during a terrifying robbery on their way to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday, April 27. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) reported that the shaken family arrived at their headquarters seeking assistance.
The self-employed mother explained to RUSA members that she had booked an e-hailing service to attend an event at Moses Mabhida Stadium. She had planned to continue to the Durban CBD afterward to purchase garments for export to Zimbabwe.
According to RUSA, when they reached the stadium, the woman retrieved R300 from her bag to pay the fare. However, the driver noticed a large sum of cash in her possession and reacted swiftly.
“The driver produced a firearm and demanded she hand over the money,” RUSA said. “He dumped them on the side of the road and sped off with R8,000 in a white Toyota.”
Authorities have not yet identified the exact model and registration of the vehicle.
Authorities seek answers as public remains on high alert
IOL contacted the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further comment, although officials have not yet issued a statement. Updates to the investigation are expected soon. Meanwhile, RUSA continues to assist the family and has urged anyone with information about the suspect or the vehicle to come forward.
Concerns over the safety of e-hailing services continue to grow, especially after several violent incidents involving passengers. Although e-hailing platforms offer convenience and affordability, recent cases have highlighted critical safety vulnerabilities. Authorities and companies must urgently address these issues to ensure passenger protection.
Previous incidents raise concerns about rider safety
This recent Durban incident mirrors a disturbing case from 2024 when attackers assaulted a woman from Boston in the Western Cape. According to SAPS, the woman ordered an e-hailing car to take her home from work.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie confirmed that Bellville SAPS registered cases of armed robbery and rape resulting from the attack, which occurred around 9:25 p.m. in Alexander Street, Bellville.
“She was fetched by a foreign driver who instructed her to sit in the back of the hatchback,” Pojie stated. “While they were travelling, a second foreign suspect allegedly emerged from the boot and threatened her with a firearm, demanding her belongings.”
The suspects robbed the woman of her laptop, cellphone, work scanner, and headphones. One of the assailants then raped her before both attackers abandoned her on the roadside.
These alarming incidents underline the urgent need for stricter safety measures and more rigorous background checks in the e-hailing sector to protect vulnerable passengers.
