Since this article has been published, Kempton Express again confirmed with the police that the vehicles involved were Uber taxis. Uber, however, did not want to go on record about this.
TEN men driving similar vehicles ambushed two Uber drivers in Kempton Park on Tuesday, leaving one vehicle torched in the central business district (CBD) and another with a shattered windscreen and punched tyres in Rhodesfield.
A shaken driver informed police that he saw 10 men coming towards his Toyota Corolla around 2.30pm before they swiftly dragged him out, robbed him of his belongings and torched his vehicle in the CBD.
Sebenza SAPS spokesperson Capt Sharon Tsotsotso said this driver was parked on the side of the R21 on-ramp to rest when he was surprised by the aggressive crowd.
“He said he was lucky to escape the grips of the suspects unharmed and ran towards the nearby Shoprite complex on Voortrekker Road for help. Another Uber driver was attacked just after 3pm in Rhodesfield,” said Tsotsotso.
Tsotsotso said the second driver was assaulted by a group of men who could very well be the same group that torched the first vehicle.
“This driver was waiting to collect a client when he was surprised by the violent suspects. His vehicle’s windscreen was broken and his tyres were stabbed with sharp objects,” she said.
Police believe these attacks could be part of the violent attacks that have taken place since the Uber and meter-taxi driver conflict started.
A few weeks ago, two Uber vehicles were petrol bombed in Sandton by a group of armed men alleged to be metered taxi drivers.
