Tragedy Sparks Urgent Call for E-Hailing Reforms in South Africa

A young man’s death forces a nation to rethink how we ride

When 22-year-old Thamsanqa Gumede left home to pick up a passenger in KwaDabeka, KwaZulu-Natal, he was doing what thousands of South Africans do every day to earn a living—driving for a ride-hailing app. But instead of returning home, Thami was found dumped in Umngeni, beaten and lifeless. His car had been stripped. His phone, gone.

Now, a grieving family and a shaken e-hailing industry are demanding answers—and change.

An industry built on trust, now cracking

South Africa’s ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt were once hailed as safer, more convenient alternatives to minibus taxis. But that reputation is fast fading. With rising reports of kidnappings, assaults, and now murder, users and drivers alike are questioning how safe these platforms really are.

“It’s different with taxis,” said Senzo Gumede, Thami’s brother, speaking to SABC News. “You know the route, the people, the driver. But with Bolt or Uber, anything can happen.”

And it often does.

The hidden danger: fake drivers, rented accounts

Behind the steering wheel of many e-hailing vehicles are not the people listed on the app. That’s one of the most dangerous open secrets in the game.

According to Sipho Mabika, chair of the KwaZulu-Natal E-hailing Council, verified driver accounts are frequently rented or handed off to unvetted individuals—people who may not even have licenses, never mind clean records.

“Because of unemployment, parents buy cars and list them under their names, then give their sons the profile,” he explained. “Or people just rent out their profiles like it’s nothing. But it’s not nothing. It’s life or death.”

In Thami’s case, Mabika says, the car was found soaked in blood. “You think you’re picking up a ride… but sometimes, you’re picking up your killer.”

Riders aren’t immune either

It’s not just drivers in danger. Riders, too, have harrowing stories.

A Johannesburg North resident described a chilling ride in late 2022 with someone they were convinced wasn’t the driver listed on the app. The driver avoided eye contact, wore a hooded jacket, and drove recklessly, revving the engine and skipping red lights.

Feeling unsafe, the passenger asked to be dropped at a petrol station, well short of their destination.

Uber later refunded the fare and blacklisted the driver—but the incident exposed a disturbing loophole. Many passengers don’t feel confident verifying their driver, especially under pressure or in a rush.

Uber and Bolt speak out—but is it enough?

Both Uber and Bolt insist they have strict policies to prevent fraud.

Uber requires fingerprint background checks, professional driving permits, proof of commercial insurance, and driving tests. It maintains a zero-tolerance stance on account sharing.

Bolt echoes that, warning that renting a profile is not only prohibited but could result in fraud charges being laid with the SAPS.

But Mabika and other industry insiders say these measures fall short unless enforcement is stepped up.

“Rules don’t matter if there’s no one making sure they’re followed,” he said.

A call for better regulation—and real consequences

What riders and drivers alike want now is simple: transparency, verification, and accountability.

Some are calling for a national e-hailing association, much like the taxi associations, that could oversee conduct, mediate disputes, and help prevent exploitation and crime.

Others want the apps themselves to be more proactive—random selfie ID checks, live GPS monitoring, and faster bans for violators.

“We need to make it harder to enter the system, not easier,” Mabika urged.

Public reaction: grief, anger, and growing fear

On social media, the reaction to Thami’s death has been a mix of sorrow and rage. Many users have shared similar stories of near-misses and frightening rides, urging friends and family to double-check car plates and driver photos before getting in.

#JusticeForThami began trending briefly on X (formerly Twitter), as users demanded better safety measures from Bolt and Uber.

“This is someone’s son. He went out to work and never came back,” one user wrote. “How many more must die before these apps take responsibility?”

Will change come?

Next week, the e-hailing sector may face its reckoning, with advocacy groups and industry stakeholders expected to meet and push for reforms.

But for families like the Gumedes, change is already too late. Their loss is permanent. And their pain is shared by an entire community of drivers who now go to work not knowing if they’ll make it home.

If you use e-hailing services in South Africa:

• Always verify the car’s number plate and the driver’s face before getting in.

• Share your trip details with someone you trust.

• Speak up if anything feels off. It might just save your life.

{Source: My Broad Band}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com