The safety of women using the Bolt e-hailing service has come under scrutiny, with social media users calling for the service to be discontinued in South Africa.
Also read: Bolt blocks driver accused of stabbing passengers
This comes after harrowing images of a woman with a cut on her back, which is thought to be a stab wound, appeared on X.
Women For Change, a non-profit organisation that promotes women’s and children’s rights, reported that a group of friends were allegedly assaulted by a Bolt driver in Table View, Cape Town, after he refused to drop them off at their requested location.
‘The driver allegedly started hitting the person sitting in the passenger seat, and when a fight erupted and the car stopped, the group of friends ran away. The driver ran after them and allegedly stabbed two of the women. No one has been arrested yet. #cancelbolt,’ read the NPO’s post.
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On 4 May 2024, a group of friends was allegedly attacked by a Bolt driver in Table View after he refused to drop them off at their requested location. The driver allegedly started hitting the person sitting in the passenger seat, and when a fight erupted and the car stopped, the… pic.twitter.com/z40cFNSrji
— Women For Change (@womenforchange5) May 6, 2024
Following the attack, Bolt stated that it was aware of the incident on 4 May, in which one of its drivers assaulted female riders in Cape Town’s Table View.
‘We regard such conduct as completely unacceptable and strongly condemn it. Our team has reached out to the rider to offer support and find out what support she requires. Our senior Customer Support personnel will also be travelling to Cape Town to pay a courtesy to express our sympathy over the incident that has occurred,’ said Bolt.
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The e-hailing service added that after learning about the incident, it immediately blocked the driver from using the platform while an investigation was conducted.
‘The safety and well-being of our riders are our top priorities, and we do not tolerate any behaviour that compromises their safety or security,’ said Bolt.
According to IOL, Sandra Buyole, Bolt’s public relations manager, stated that the company was cooperating with local authorities in the investigation of the incident and would take all necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Picture: @bonile_ / Instagram