Police urge e-hailing drivers to report Hillbrow, Tembisa attacks
Footage of a robbery and a hijacking involving e-hailing drivers is circulating, but Gauteng police say no cases have been opened for the Hillbrow and Tembisa incidents.
Video clips showing attacks on two e-hailing drivers, one in Hillbrow and one in Tembisa, are being shared widely. Gauteng police say that nobody has yet opened a case, according to IOL.
Robbery in Hillbrow
The Hillbrow incident took place during the day on Friday, 30 October, near Lilly and Joel streets in the Hillbrow/Berea area. A woman driver had accepted a ride request. The footage shows a woman walking up to her car and getting into a short argument with her.
Two men then appeared and took the driver’s money. IOL reported that she managed to throw her cellphone under another seat, so the attackers did not get it. She got away with the phone and then phoned in to say that her money had been stolen.
Hijacking in Tembisa
The Tembisa clip was filmed in night vision. It shows another e-hailing driver being targeted, and a woman inside the car seems to have played a leading part in what happened. She is seen wearing distinctive headwear. As the hijacking took place, the driver left the vehicle and ran away on foot.
The method looks much like the Hillbrow case, with a woman apparently helping to set up the attack.
Eldorado Park arrests earlier this week
The two clips follow an armed robbery on Tuesday, 27 October, in Extension 7 of Eldorado Park. A 20-year-old e-hailing driver was ambushed there after accepting a ride request. A woman allegedly sat in the front passenger seat and told him to hold on for her brothers. Two men then got in, and the driver was threatened and robbed.
One suspect allegedly pulled up the handbrake, and another outside the car fired a shot and demanded the driver’s cellphone. The driver escaped. The suspects allegedly took cash, bank cards, his identity document and his driver’s licence. Police arrested five suspects aged between 15 and 21. Dashcam footage of the threats also drew attention.
What police are asking for
Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko told IOL on Saturday, 31 October, that officers had spoken to both police stations and found no reports of the Hillbrow or Tembisa incidents. She urged those affected to open cases at any police station so that investigations can begin.
It is unclear whether the three attacks are linked or whether a group is behind them. The incidents have renewed concern for e-hailing drivers, who can be lured into robberies and hijackings through ride requests.
What this means for drivers
Without a case number, police say they cannot investigate. Drivers who have been robbed or hijacked can report the crime at any police station, and the police appeal applies even when footage is already online.
This story is based on reporting by IOL.
