Uber drivers warned against rising 'sex for ride' scam
Gauteng e-Hailing Partners Council has warned drivers of a trend where customers offer drivers sexual favours in exchange for a free ride.
This follows a video recorded by an Uber driver last week, showing the driver demanding payment for the ride from a female client who did not cash to pay for the ride.
In the video, the passenger claimed that her phone's battery had died and insisted that the driver accompany her to her residence to charge the phone and make an EFT.
However, the driver refused and insisted that they drive to the police station instead.
Spokesperson Nkosinathi Zwane said drivers should not fall prey to such stunts as this may lead to accusations of rape or sexual harassment.
"Drivers need to restrain themselves, they must remember that they are at work and their livelihoods are at risk and we are advising them to continue recording such incidents. These incidents are common, drivers should check if clients have the money before proceeding with the ride. The app companies should educate their clients about the importance of paying for the ride."
Meanwhile, Uber South Africa spokesperson Mpho Sebelebele says such incidents are not common on the Uber app.
“What has been described is shocking and regrettable and is in clear violation of our community guidelines. The incident that has been captured hasn't been reported on the app by either the rider or the driver.
“We take any incident of this nature very seriously and in safety-related incidents that are reported, we immediately restrict the rider's access to the app. While incidents such as this are not common on the Uber app, we encourage users to report any such incidents via our app to ensure that the matter is receiving the attention it requires."
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