Bulelwa Hoala

South African broadcasting personality Anele Mdoda has shared her disturbing encounter with an Uber driver who allegedly threatened her with rape in Cape Town on Sunday night.
According to Anele, the Uber driver was upset that she had picked the “don’t talk to me option” and told her that in his country, she would be raped to be taught a lesson.
Uber.com says the service preference in question lets the driver know in advance whether a rider/passenger would prefer to chat or not.
Anele shared two videos of the incident on social media.
In one of the videos, the driver can be seen driving away while Anele confronts him about threatening her.
“My @uber driver tonight was upset that I had picked the don’t talk to me option. He then said
“ in my country we would rape you to teach you a lesson” and I had to fake being on instagram live to get home safe
Then when he got to my hotel he started shouting at me and I really recorded and this is what ensued and there was a couple that could see I was under duress
I apologise for my language. I was in danger,” Anele wrote on X.
Anele also posted another video in which she says she pretended to be on Instagram live because she feared for her safety.
“So after he threatened me with rape to keep in line I started recording so that if anything happens to me it’s on record. I faked being on instagram live. This was in Cape Town.
Watch till the end,” Anele wrote.
While her videos have been met with mixed reactions on X, Anele has confirmed that she will be pressing charges and cannot comment further on the matter as the police are involved.
Thank you for all the comments on this uber saga including the ones that say I am the one in the wrong. I am going to press charges today. Twitter won’t make sure that man does not threaten another woman again. The law will. Have a great day further, because I will.
— Anele Mdoda (@Anele) February 24, 2025
Uber has reached out and are taking it seriously. I won’t comment further on the matter. Police are involved as well. Thank you,” she said.
IOL reports that a survey conducted by non-profit organisation Women For Change in May 2024 highlighted significant safety concerns among e-hailing service users in South Africa:
- 73% of respondents reported feeling unsafe while using e-hailing services.
- 22% experienced harassment or verbal abuse during a trip at least once.
- 9% reported experiencing some form of abuse, including sexual abuse, during a trip.
- 48% knew someone who had been harassed or assaulted by an e-hailing driver.
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