Five Arrested After Viral Video of e-Hailing Driver Robbery in Eldorado Park

Five suspects, aged between 15 and 21, have been arrested following a violent robbery of an e-hailing driver in Extension 7 that was captured on dashcam footage and went viral on social media.

The victim, a 20-year-old driver, was ambushed on Tuesday in what police believe was a coordinated trap set by a female passenger posing as a customer.

HOW THE TRAP UNFOLDED

According to the driver’s account, he received a request to pick up a female passenger. When he arrived, she asked him to wait while her “brothers” joined them.

Once two men entered the vehicle, the situation turned violent. They grabbed the handbrake to stop the car and demanded his valuables, cash, his ID, driver’s licence, and bank cards.

A fourth suspect outside the vehicle fired a gunshot into the air and demanded his cellphone before the group fled the scene.

No injuries were reported, but the driver was left shaken by the ordeal.

DASHCAM FOOTAGE SPARKS OUTRAGE

The driver’s dashcam captured the entire incident, and the footage quickly spread on social media, sparking widespread outrage and renewed concerns about safety in the e-hailing industry.

The video showed the terrifying moment the men overpowered the driver, with clear audio of the gunshot and the suspects’ demands.

“This is what drivers face every day,” one e-hailing driver commented on social media. “We are targets. We need protection.”

ARREST SWIFTLY MADE

Police confirmed that the five suspects were arrested following operational information and an investigation linked to the viral footage. Three of the suspects are minors, aged 15, 16 and 17. The other two are aged 18 and 21.

“The arrests follow the circulation of the video footage and subsequent police investigation,” said a police spokesperson. “The suspects face charges of armed robbery and firearm offences.”

The five are expected to appear in the Eldorado Park Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

E-HAILING SAFETY CONCERNS

The incident has reignited calls for greater protection for e-hailing drivers, who are increasingly targeted by criminal syndicates.

The E-Hailing Association of South Africa has repeatedly urged drivers to install dashcams and panic buttons, and to verify passenger details before accepting trips.

“We have been warning about this for years,” said an association representative. “Drivers are robbed, hijacked, and sometimes killed. The government needs to do more to protect them.”