The driver was reportedly responding to a trip request when he was attacked. His body was later discovered in Atteridgeville, and his hijacked vehicle was found abandoned. The incident, captured on the vehicle’s dashcam, has led to the arrest of four suspects.
NEFSA President Elijah Uhuru Lekgowane said the federation is deeply concerned about the growing trend of violence targeting e‑hailing operators and warned that the situation has escalated into a national crisis requiring urgent government intervention.
“We are calling for the national government to act because this is a national crisis now. In Phoenix in the KwaZulu‑Natal province, we have already received news of an attack that happened over the weekend,” Lekgowane said.
He added that the violence is not confined to isolated areas. “In Mamelodi, again, in Pretoria East, we endured another experience over the weekend where there was an attempted hijacking of a driver. As a consequence of that, the driver shot one of these criminals. This is a national crisis which calls for a national response. That is our call as NEFSA.”
The federation has long raised concerns about inadequate protection for drivers, who often operate in high‑risk environments with little real‑time support. While e‑hailing companies have introduced safety features such as emergency alerts and identity verification systems, Lekgowane said these measures are not enough to stem the rising tide of violent crime.
NEFSA is calling for a multi‑sectoral response involving national and provincial government, policing structures and e‑hailing platforms. The federation believes a coordinated approach is essential to improving intelligence gathering, law enforcement response times and crime prevention.
–SABC/ChanelAfrica–
