Jim Mohlala|Published
E-hailing and delivery drivers are being warned about hijackings and robberies in Lotus River, with Farm Crescent flagged as a hotspot and concerns that drivers are also being targeted in surrounding areas.
Warnings circulating on social media claim that numerous Uber drivers and delivery riders have been hijacked and robbed in Farm Crescent, urging drivers to be on high alert when accepting requests to the area.
Grassy Park Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Nicole Jacobus told IOL Media that the CPF was aware of the safety concerns raised by e-hailing drivers and delivery riders.
She said: “We are concerned about the reports of robberies targeting these drivers, and we take these concerns seriously.”
Robberies not limited to Farm Crescent
Jacobus said she could not give an exact number of hijackings or robberies reported in the past week.
“Unfortunately, not all incidents are reported to SAPS, which is a major concern for me,” she added.
She said that if incidents are not reported, “it becomes difficult to establish the true extent of the problem.”
“I urge all drivers who fall victim to crime to open a case with SAPS.”
Jacobus said the problem was not limited to the street named in the warning.
“These robberies are not only happening in Farm Crescent.”
She said there were concerns about incidents in other pockets of Grassy Park, which made it hard to identify a single hotspot. She added that “these robberies can happen at any time of the day” and that locations change, making the next incident difficult to predict.
CPF seeks response from e-hailing companies
Jacobus said the CPF had created an awareness poster about the safety risks facing e-hailing drivers. It has been shared on community WhatsApp groups and on the Grassy Park CPF Facebook page.
The CPF also emailed various e-hailing companies to raise its concerns and request engagement, saying: “To date, we have not received a response. We cannot do this alone.”
IOL Media also approached Western Cape SAPS for comment. The police said crime statistics are released at set intervals.
“Crime Stats are released by the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner quarterly.”