A 21-year-old Uber Eats driver was dragged off his bike and robbed by two unknown men while stopped at a traffic light in Brackenfell Industrial.
The incident occurred on Saturday night, 19 September, on the corner of Okavango and Old Paarl roads, around 22:00. The driver was waiting at the red light when two men grabbed him off the bike and stole it. The robbery is the latest in a spate of attacks targeting delivery drivers.
In early August, a delivery driver was kicked off his bike as he rounded a corner in Eerste River by three men who ran towards him. As he fell, he was robbed and shoved around by his assailants. In another incident during the last week of August, a delivery driver was run down and robbed by two men when he stopped in the street in Lotus River.
In July, a Checkers delivery driver was robbed outside a home in Protea Heights in Brackenfell.
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Surveillance footage from the scene showed a car pulling up alongside the driver as he stopped in front of a residence. Suspects jumped out and forced him to his knees before fleeing, one speeding off on the stolen motorbike, the rest in the getaway car.
Vulnerable at night
“Delivery drivers, especially those working at night, are extremely vulnerable,” says Norman Landry, chair of Brackenfell Community Police Forum. “They risk their lives to earn an honest living.” Landry urged the public to be mindful of their safety and the drivers to be vigilant at all times.
Brackenfell police have opened a common robbery case following the incident.
“No injuries were reported to have been sustained, investigation continues and no arrest has been made yet,” says provincial police spokesperson Thembakazihonesty Mpendukana.
TygerBurger contacted Uber Eats for comment on the prevalence of this crime, and what safety measures, if any, are in place for delivery drivers. Although Uber acknowledged the media inquiry and committed to providing a response, no response had been received at the time of publication.
