Woman Jumps from Moving Car to Escape Kidnapping in KZN

KEY POINTS

• A Durban restaurant employee escaped an alleged kidnapping by jumping from a moving e-hailing vehicle in Inanda, KZN, after the driver deviated from her route and locked the doors.
• Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) responded to the scene, but the driver and vehicle remain at large; the woman reported the incident to the police.
• This incident follows a similar case in January, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the e-hailing industry and prompting calls for stricter safety measures.

In a harrowing incident in the early hours of Saturday, a Durban-based restaurant employee narrowly escaped an alleged kidnapping or robbery by jumping from a moving e-hailing vehicle in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal. 

The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, had booked the ride via an e-hailing app after finishing her shift before the kidnapping incident. 

However, the driver reportedly deviated from the intended route to KwaMashu, locked the doors, and continued driving past her destination, raising immediate concerns for her safety.

Fearing for her life, the woman managed to unlock the door of the Suzuki Dzire and leapt from the moving vehicle as it travelled along Sigora Road in Inanda. 

She sustained no physical injuries but was visibly traumatised. After her escape, she fled to a nearby property, where she hid and contacted her boyfriend for assistance. 

Her boyfriend, alarmed by the situation, immediately reached out to Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) for help, fearing the driver might return to harm or kidnap her.

Rusa Responds, but Driver and Vehicle Remain at Large

Reaction officers arrived at the scene promptly and located the woman at approximately 3:51 AM. Despite a thorough search of the area, the e-hailing vehicle and its driver were not found. 

The woman was later transported to the Vela SAPS in Inanda to formally report the incident. 

Prem Balram, spokesperson for Rusa, confirmed the details of the incident and emphasised the woman’s bravery in escaping the potentially life-threatening situation.

This incident is not isolated, raising concerns about the safety of e-hailing services in South Africa. In January, a similar case involving a 22-year-old Northdale woman, Zhanay Joseph, who alleged she was physically assaulted and verbally abused by an intoxicated e-hailing driver. 

The driver reportedly drove recklessly, refused to drop her at her destination, and eventually forced her out of the vehicle. 

Joseph reported the incident to both the police and the e-hailing service, which apologised and took internal disciplinary action against the driver.