Cape Town - A recent video widely shared of a food delivery driver being robbed outside a residence while delivering an order has heightened the safety concerns of drivers and customers in certain areas.
Online food orders have rocketed over the years, amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic that saw the food delivery industry booming. However, this has come at the risk of the drivers, who are robbed of the food, money, devices and even their scooters.
The recent incident caught on video shows a customer exiting the premises where he immediately meets the delivery driver. However, within five seconds of their meeting, a vehicle appears from which two men exit and rob the driver of his belongings. The customer manages to escape.
While it is not clear where the incident occurred, residents have been cautioned about this new crime trend. Numerous anti-crime groups took to social media to describe the criminals’ modus operandi.
Tactical Support Security Services said the incident happened in the Gauteng region and that criminals mostly targeted customers in private complexes where they’re required to open the gates and exit the premises.
The TSSS member, who asked to be identified as Rudi, said criminals follow the motorbike to the property, and when the customer exits, they pounce on the unsuspecting victims, rob them at gunpoint and make off with the valuables. He warned that this is a widespread practice.
One of the riders, Duanne Bernad, said this was a daily occurrence. He said initially the criminals were after their cellphones and cash, but they are now gunning for their bikes and also targeting customers.
He said most riders do not report these robberies for fear of being blocked from the app.
“We have received numerous complaints in Cape Town, however, it’s not as bad as the incidents that are reported in Gauteng.”
Uber Eats sub-Saharan Africa head of operations Charles Mhango confirmed Uber Eats was aware of isolated incidents being reported to its safety team and that they were monitoring the situation on the ground.
He said the safety of delivery people and users was a top priority, and that the organisation was concerned by such reports.
Mhango said their Incident Response Team (IRT) was available 24/7 to respond immediately to reported incidents of this nature.
“We understand that delivery people face unique challenges on the road, especially those on two wheels who may be more vulnerable, so we have various safety features tailored to them available at the touch of a button.
“These include a safety checklist, and emergency button, which dispatches private security to the delivery person in the event of an incident,” he said.
Mr D Food said if an area poses a risk to both drivers and customers, it either does not accept cash-on-delivery payments or terminates delivery to those areas.
It said it continually monitors operating environments and is working hard to mitigate risks for both delivery personnel and customers.