Bolt South Africa has blocked 6000 drivers over several reports of misconduct and insecurity in the past six months, local media have said.
The company says it’s part of an ongoing campaign to prevent drivers who have been reported for misconduct from using the platform, as there’s growing outrage among passengers over safety concerns in South Africa.
In May a Bolt South Africa driver was arrested and charged to court for allegedly stabbing two women following an argument over their drop-off location in Cape Town.
Two months preceding that incident, a former driver, Emmanuel Mudau was convicted for raping, kidnapping, and assaulting female passengers in Randburg, a residential town south of Johannesburg. Mudau was sentenced to two life sentences and two 15-year terms.
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Bolt claimed they cooperated with law enforcement authorities in the case against its former driver. Following that incident, the company also faced threats of civil lawsuits for failing to protect passengers.
“The company will continue to permanently block drivers and riders who have been reported for misconduct from accessing the platform. We believe that one incident is too many, and we want to ensure our platform consists of top-rated drivers, which will result in a better overall ride experience,” the company is reported to have said in a statement regarding the suspensions.
The suspensions do not seem to be exclusive to South Africa alone. According to Nigeria publication The Punch, last December, the company suspended 5000 Nigerian drivers for similar concerns of safety.
