The Western Cape E-hailing Association (WCEA) is urging drivers to report crimes committed against them following the circulation of a disturbing video online depicting yet another e-hailing driver falling victim to a brazen robbery. The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of e-hailing drivers, particularly in vulnerable areas across the Cape Flats.
The distressing video shows two passengers entering an e-hailing vehicle, seemingly initiating a routine trip. However, the situation quickly escalates as a group of men surround the car. One of the passengers then slaps the driver and steals his mobile phone. The violence escalates further as another man repeatedly strikes the driver in the face while more individuals enter the vehicle. The passenger continues to search the driver, rifling through his pockets and continuing the assault.
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Siyabonga Hlabisa, Chairperson of the WCEA, confirmed that the association is aware of the video circulating online. However, he expressed concern that the driver involved in the incident has not yet reported the crime to either the WCEA or the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Hlabisa highlighted the alarming frequency with which e-hailing drivers are being targeted by criminals. "This is not the first incident where drivers are being robbed and targeted by criminals in dangerous areas especially on the Cape Flats, it has been happening a lot," Hlabisa explained. "We report these incidents to SAPS but it has become the norm to rob an e-hailing driver. Everyone is getting used to it since we never get any feedback after a driver has been robbed. The victim does not get any feedback if the criminals have been arrested or not, there is nothing like that at the moment."
The WCEA is actively working towards implementing driver profiles to enhance safety measures. However, Hlabisa emphasised that a more comprehensive approach is needed to address the root causes of the problem and ensure the safety of drivers.
A key aspect of the WCEA's call to action is directed at the e-hailing platforms themselves. Hlabisa is now urging these platforms to make profile pictures mandatory for riders, arguing that this would significantly improve driver safety and allow for more effective identification of potential robbers.
"The biggest challenge also lies with the apps who are not putting riders' pictures on the profile because drivers' profiles are there," Hlabisa stated. "Riders have an advantage to see the driver but unfortunately there are still apps who refuse to give their riders profile so that the driver can see who he picks up."
Hlabisa explained that the association has been actively lobbying e-hailing companies to implement this crucial safety feature. "We are still struggling to convince them, we have been sending a plea to all of the app companies to ask to add a rider’s profile so the driver can see who he is picking up, some apps do have a rider’s profile but not all of them," he said.
The WCEA believes that mandatory rider profile pictures would provide drivers with a vital tool for assessing potential risks before accepting a ride, ultimately deterring criminal activity and enhancing the safety of e-hailing services in the Western Cape. The association continues to advocate for greater collaboration between drivers, e-hailing platforms, and law enforcement agencies to combat the rising tide of robberies targeting e-hailing drivers.
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