A routine e-hailing trip turned into a nightmare for a Parkgate woman and her two daughters after their driver robbed them at gunpoint in Durban on Sunday.
The 40-year-old woman, a self-employed business owner, had hired the driver to take her and her daughters—aged 18 and 11—to Moses Mabhida Stadium to attend an event, with plans to later shop in central Durban for her clothing export business.
However, shortly after arriving at the stadium, the journey took a terrifying turn. As she reached into her bag to retrieve R300 for the fare, the driver allegedly spotted a larger stash of money. He then pulled a firearm on the family and demanded the cash.
The driver robbed them of R8,000 and abandoned the terrified family on the roadside before fleeing in a white Toyota. The vehicle’s model and registration remain unknown, complicating tracking efforts.
The victims later arrived at the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) headquarters to report the incident. Thanks to the quick thinking of the 11-year-old daughter, who managed to hide R100, they were able to pay for a ride back to the RUSA operations centre after the ordeal.
RUSA officials confirmed they have obtained a photograph of the suspect, believed to reside in Waterloo, KwaZulu-Natal. However, the image will not be released publicly until a formal criminal case is registered.
Thankfully, none of the victims sustained physical injuries, though the emotional toll of the incident is significant.
This incident raises growing concerns about passenger safety within South Africa’s e-hailing industry, where cases of driver misconduct and violent crime continue to surface.
