E-hailing driver assaulted in Phoenix, KZN police investigate extortion case
An e-hailing driver was assaulted at Phoenix Plaza after dropping off a passenger, leading to other e-hailing drivers gathering outside the Phoenix Police Station on Saturday.
Image: Supplied
In another incident that has sent shockwaves through the e-hailing community, a Bolt driver was allegedly assaulted by three individuals after dropping off a passenger outside the Phoenix Plaza in Durban on Saturday. Police have since initiated an investigation into the allegations of assault and extortion.
KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said: “Police in Phoenix are investigating a case of extortion and assault (common), after an e-hailing driver was allegedly assaulted for dropping off a person outside the Phoenix Plaza.”
Magwaza said the e-hailing driver’s vehicle was taken from him, but was later returned after police intervened.
KZN E-Hailing Council chairperson Sipho Mabika said the driver reported that while he was dropping off someone at Phoenix Plaza, a man approached him and told him they were not allowed inside to drop off passengers.
A man then entered the vehicle and instructed the driver to go to their office, while he attempted to park on the side. He pulled the handbrake, and two others entered the vehicle. They assaulted him and said he was resisting. Then they drove to their taxi association’s offices.
“When they got to the offices, he said they put him inside and assaulted him again. A man said that for him to get his car back, he had to bring R5,000,” Mabika said.
He said they have received many complaints about Phoenix Plaza.
“Maybe tomorrow (Monday), we’ll return to the police station to check if the police were able to arrest the suspects in the case,” Mabika said.
KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said they received the news of the assault from the chairperson of the KZN E-Hailing Council.
“We condemn this attack, extortion, and any form of intimidation against Bolt drivers and any player in the e-hailing industry,” Duma said.
He said he assigned department officials to work closely with police on the issue to prevent further violence.
The department’s Public Regulatory Entity (PRE) had previously collaborated with various bodies, namely eThekwini Metro, the KZN E-Hailing Council, the KZN South African National Taxi Council, and SAPS, to address and resolve a comparable dispute between Bolt drivers and the Clermont KwaDabeka Taxi Association.
“We have a winning formula, which we must use so that we do not see the repeat of other conflicts. In particular, we must collectively work toward preventing the recurrence of ugly scenes that played out outside Maponya Mall last year,” Duma said.
“In KZN, there should be no no-go zone for e-hailing drivers, and their assaults or murders will not be tolerated.”
Duma said the department’s dedicated team has been mandated to ensure the following:
- Foster peaceful co-existence and harmonise relations between e-hailing drivers and taxi operators in Phoenix.
- Discuss and adopt sustainable solutions for long-term peace and stability in Phoenix’s public transport sector.
- Enforce traffic laws to strengthen the transport system and enhance safety.
- Update stakeholders on the implementation of amended National Land Transport Act e-hailing regulations, which formally recognise platforms like Bolt as part of the public transport system.
Additionally, a summit focused on e-hailing, bringing together essential stakeholders, is also currently being planned.