Fake Uber scams at Cape Town International Airport are once again raising concerns after reports revealed that unsuspecting travellers have allegedly been charged thousands of rand by people posing as legitimate e-hailing drivers, Cape {town} Etc reports.
According to MyBroadband, some passengers have reported paying as much as R4 200 for trips that should have cost only a few hundred rand. The publication cited comments from travel commentator Johan van Schalkwyk, who said complaints from international visitors have become increasingly common after they arrive in Cape Town.
‘The thing you read often is someone saying, ‘My trip should have been R420, but I got to the hotel and connected to the Wi-Fi to see I’ve been charged R4 200,’ Van Schalkwyk told Cape Talk.
The issue has again gained momentum over recent months. In a Facebook post published in May, Van Schalkwyk described the temporary international arrivals exit as creating ‘a terrible first impression of Cape Town’. He said people wearing homemade Uber-branded lanyards were openly approaching travellers, checking their phones and claiming to be their booked drivers.
‘It is happening in plain sight,’ he wrote, adding that visitors were often left anxious, confused and significantly out of pocket within minutes of landing. The post has since attracted widespread attention and will be embedded below.
Cape {town} Etc also reported on similar incidents in November 2025, when tourists were allegedly overcharged by fraudulent e-hailing operators, including one visitor who reportedly lost almost R40 000 on a journey from Cape Town International Airport to the city centre. Tourism authorities at the time urged visitors to use official airport pick-up areas, confirm driver details through the app and avoid accepting rides from people approaching them directly.
General safety concerns extend beyond Cape Town. Earlier this month, Business Day reported that an alleged robbery involving an Uber trip had renewed concerns around e-hailing safety in South Africa, adding to ongoing discussions about passenger security and stronger enforcement across the sector.
Private security companies have also issued public warnings. In May, Pro-Com Enterprizes cautioned travellers about fake Uber and Bolt drivers operating at major airports, including Cape Town International and OR Tambo. The company advised passengers to verify the driver’s name, profile photo and registration number on the app, never cancel a matched trip at a stranger’s request and use only official e-hailing collection zones.
Following increased public attention, Van Schalkwyk shared an update on Facebook this week confirming that Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and Cape Town Tourism had installed larger warning signs inside the terminal. He added that the temporary arrivals exit has now closed following repairs after the airport fire, with the original arrivals route back in use.
According to Van Schalkwyk, ACSA also noted that while it manages security inside the terminal, the area outside the airport doors falls under the South African Police Service’s jurisdiction.
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