[imagesource:itweb]

South Africans are fed up with Bolt SA and calling for the cancelling of the app after a recent stabbing incident caused a major uproar.

The alleged attack took place in Table View on May 4 after the driver in question refused to drop off the riders at their requested location.

It is claimed that the driver then started hitting the person sitting in the passenger seat, which caused a fight to erupt. When the driver stopped the car, the group of friends ran away but the driver ran after them and allegedly stabbed two of the women.

Upon learning of the incident, the e-hailing service said it took action to block the driver from the platform while an investigation took place.

“Bolt is aware and is deeply disturbed by the recent incident involving a driver who allegedly assaulted two female riders in Cape Town, Table View, on May 4, 2024. We regard such conduct as completely unacceptable,” PR Manager of Bolt Africa, Sandra Buyole said to The Citizen.

“The safety and well-being of our riders are our top priorities, and we do not tolerate any behaviour that compromises their safety or security,” stated Buyole.

Buyole said that the Bolt SA team has reached out to the rider to offer support and find out what support they may require, including face-to-face counselling.

“Our Customer Support Team Lead for Safety has also availed themselves to travel to Cape Town to pay a courtesy to express our sympathy over the incident that has occurred.”

However, the call to cancel the e-hailing app is growing, especially among women, who are often the biggest victims of violence and mistreatment. The non-profit organisation Women For Change has led the charge.

“Bolt SA must take immediate action to ensure the safety of its passengers, particularly women, in light of recurrent attacks. Enough is enough now,” read the NPO’s brief statement on Instagram, tied up with ‘Cancel Bolt’ and ‘End violence against women’ hashtags.

 

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A post shared by Women For Change (@womenforchangesa)

Media personality Siv Ngesi was also vocal, calling the driver a ‘piece of sh*t’ and the app ‘evil’ alongside some seriously graphic images of the stab wounds on the two victims. Instagram should have a graphic warning, but if not, consider this one:

 

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A post shared by Siv Ngesi (@sivngesi)

Western Cape South African Police Service Media Liaison Officer Captain F.C. Van Wyk told The Citizen a criminal case had not been opened.

Bolt’s Buyole said that once a police case has been opened, “Bolt will cooperate fully with the South African Police Service’s investigation into this incident, providing any information possible that may lead to an arrest and conviction of the perpetrators”.

[source:citizen]