E-hailing drivers in eMalahleni say they are increasingly under threat as criminal activities carried out by passengers put them at risk of police investigations. The drivers claim they are being unknowingly used to transport drugs and stolen goods, with little control over who books their vehicles or what is being carried.

False booking profiles

One driver, Theo Mlambo, described how riders also book trips using false details.

“They request rides using their names, women’s names, and sometimes other people request them. They often use addresses that are not theirs,” he said.

He recounted how he spent several months being followed by police without knowing why. “When they finally approached me, they asked me for the whereabouts of someone who was once my passenger, who is allegedly accused of dealing in drugs. They said my car was seen transporting him,” he explained.

Drivers say this pattern is becoming common, leaving them vulnerable to being linked to crimes they have no part in.

“We are tired of explaining to the police that we have no relationship with the riders. We are just doing our jobs,” Mlambo said.

He further stressed that he is struggling to open a case against the Police.

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Calls for platform safeguards

He further noted that the growing concern highlights the precarious position of e-hailing operators, who rely on digital platforms for work but have little power to verify the identities or intentions of their passengers. Many drivers argue that they are being unfairly targeted when passengers use their services to move illegal items.

Some drivers are calling for stronger safeguards, including closer co-operation between platforms and law enforcement, to ensure that innocent operators are not criminalised for crimes committed by their clients.

Witbank SAPS’ spokesperson, Warrant Officer David Ratau, urged e-hailing operators to co-operate with the police to clear driver involvement in local crimes.

“If they found themselves in such cases, we advise them to corporate as that’s the only way to help with the investigation and bring justice,” he said.

For now, drivers say they remain caught between serving customers and protecting themselves from being implicated in activities they know nothing about.

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@theomlambo1 #BoltSA #TheRequest #Police ♬ original sound – T'Man

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