Bolt driver charged with rape, kidnapping & robbery due in court
A suspended Bolt driver accused of s.e.xually assaulting female passengers is expected to appear before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The man was reportedly arrested on 26 February at the Kya Sands informal settlement after a case of rape was opened at the Douglasdale Police Station on 24 February 2022, according to a local publication report.
The suspect made his first appearance in court last week and his case was postponed to Tuesday.
Multiple charges
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the man, who has since been suspended on the e-hailing app, faces charges of kidnapping, two counts of rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and attempted murder.
During his court appearance on Tuesday, the suspect is expected to provide his information to the court in preparation for his bail application.
Social media uproar
The story drew a lot of attention on social media last week after a woman on Friday took to Twitter detailing her friend’s horrific ordeal of being s.e.xually assaulted allegedly by a Bolt driver.
This led to several other personal accounts by female passengers of alleged incidents of sexual assault at the hands of Bolt drivers.
An online petition against Bolt was since established and circulated on social media, demanding that the e-hailing service improves the vetting of its drivers.
The petition has garnered over 100,000 signatures and counting.
Bolt said the driver would only be reinstated on the platform if he is fully exonerated by the courts.
EFF set to protest
Meanwhile, the EFF’s deputy secretary-general Poppy Mailola was expected to lead a protest outside the Randburg Magistrate’s Court against the driver accused of s.e.xual assault.
[In Pictures]: DSG @mailola_poppy is at the Randburg Magistrate Court today with the lawyer Ms Onalenna Thakga to institute civil action against Bolt driver accused of raping four women passengers. pic.twitter.com/zCNOzTFHwt
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 8, 2022
In other news – This video of DJ Dimplez interviewing Riky Rick leaves Mzansi in tears
Mzansi music industry has really suffered a huge loss following the death of three of the OGs of the game in a short space of time! Barely a week after Hip Hop star Riky Rick was buried, Mzansi entertainment has lost another Hip Hop legend.
Multi-award-winning DJ Tumi Mooi, popularly known as DJ Dimplez passed away yesterday. According to the family statement, DJ Dimplez suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage. Learn More
