The Western Cape's e-hailing sector is calling for urgent intervention after an industry association warned that criminal attacks on drivers have become a near-daily reality. The E-hailing Association said the province remains among the areas most affected by assaults and robberies targeting drivers and passengers.
Drivers under siege, association says
Association secretary Omar Parker said footage circulated earlier this week, reportedly showing an e-hailing driver and passengers being assaulted and robbed, underlined how frequent and brazen the incidents are. Parker described the situation as a crisis for workers who depend on the platform economy for their livelihoods.
"I mean these things are happening on a daily basis you know, we can't even keep track of these things... This has become like the new norm. I mean, in the Western Cape, the level of criminality is so deep," said Parker.
Parker told reporters the ongoing stream of attacks leaves drivers in an impossible position: forced to choose between earning an income and personal safety. He said the association is frustrated by the perceived lack of reliable statistics from police and by what it regards as inadequate protection from state institutions.
What is being asked of authorities
The association is urging a co-ordinated response involving provincial and municipal authorities, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and platform operators. It wants improved data collection on attacks, visible policing in hotspot areas, faster response times and clearer safety protocols from e-hailing companies.
- Improved statistics: the association says police data is incomplete and hampers effective responses.
- Targeted policing: visible, intelligence-led deployments in identified hotspots are being requested.
- Platform responsibility: better incident reporting channels and support for victims from e-hailing operators.
None of those specific remedies were quantified by the association in the material provided. SAPS and the e-hailing companies referenced were not quoted in the association's statement available to the press at the time of reporting.
Local impact and context
The rise in reported attacks affects drivers' incomes and the safety of passengers and commuters who rely on e-hailing services for daily travel across Cape Town and other towns in the province. The sector is a significant source of informal and formal employment, and persistent insecurity can push drivers out of the trade or force them to change working patterns, reducing access to transport for late-night workers and residents in outlying areas.
Safety concerns also feed into wider debates about crime, urban policing and the regulation of platform-based work in the Western Cape. Drivers who depend on fares said security concerns influence their willingness to accept trips to certain areas and to work at night, potentially deepening transport inequalities.
| Claim | Detail |
|---|---|
| Frequency of attacks | Almost daily, according to the E-hailing Association |
| Geographic focus | Western Cape highlighted as among the most affected regions |
| Reported evidence | Circulated dashboard camera footage reportedly showing assault and robbery |
Practical steps for drivers and passengers
While authorities consider responses, drivers and passengers should be reminded of practical precautions: keep trip details visible to colleagues or family, share live-tracking links for trips, avoid accepting rides to isolated locations when alone, and report all incidents promptly to SAPS so they are recorded at local police stations. Keeping dashcams and phone cameras in good working order can help with evidence collection, though victims should not place themselves in further danger to record incidents.
The association's message highlights the tension between platform work's economic importance and the state's duty to protect workers and citizens. As calls for data, policing and platform accountability intensify, the situation will test how quickly institutions can respond to a problem the industry describes as escalating across the province.
Key contact points: victims and witnesses of e-hailing related crimes should open a case at their nearest police station and obtain a case number; they may also approach the association for advice and the e-hailing operator involved to report the incident through official channels.
