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As if we don’t have enough to be afraid of already, there has been an increase in reports of Uber drivers attacking their fares, or in some cases working with other thugs to rob unsuspecting passengers.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has stated that there have been at least six cases of late-night attacks on Uber passengers attempting to get a ride home in Pretoria in the last month alone.

According to a story in The Sunday Times, Kayleigh Marx, aged 25, experienced such an incident while taking an Uber trip home from the Springbok game at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria three weeks ago.

Their Uber driver stopped just short of their destination and unlocked the doors of the car, after which men approached the vehicle with guns. The lady managed to escape and run for help, but her friend was attacked and beaten by the gunmen.

Only when friends close to the scene responded to her screams, did the attackers jump into the Uber and flee. The driver of the car had apparently used pepper spray to incapacitate them before unlocking the doors.

Uber said the allegations were “concerning” and confirmed that it is conducting an internal investigation into the incidents. It added that it limits a driver’s access to the ride-hailing app in such events to mitigate the risk of further incidents.

It said that, following the conclusion of the investigation, a decision may be made to “permanently remove” the driver’s access. May be made? What does it take to get booted from the app? For that matter, how do these guys get onto the app? What kind of vetting does Uber even do?

All drivers are background checked before their first ride and screened on an ongoing basis. And we’re building new features to help protect and support you. https://t.co/JMkTUCXoyw pic.twitter.com/hJzBkrppC4

— Uber (@Uber) September 13, 2019

Marx’s experience was one of at least six that have occurred in Pretoria in the last month alone. One Uber customer had apparently experienced two incidents within the span of a year.

Uber customers aren’t the only ones at risk of being attacked in South Africa, with ride-hailing drivers again coming under threat in recent months.

In early June 2023, Uber and Bolt drivers were attacked at Maponya Mall in Soweto, with bystanders reporting that taxi drivers were responsible for the violence. The ride-hailing drivers took a further blow when they were banned from picking up or dropping off shoppers at any malls in Soweto for the next three months.

In mid-July, Bolt and Uber drivers in South Africa threatened a “national shutdown” to protest ongoing safety concerns and low pay. Drivers demanded, among other things, regulation in the industry and for companies to reduce the “extremely high” commissions they charge.

All this does not bode too well for South Africa as every form of transport is beginning to either be non-functional, or potentially life-threatening.

At this rate, school runs will soon have to be done in Mad Max-style armoured convoys.

[source:mybroadband]