Latest news with #Myeza
IOL News
26-06-2025
- IOL News
E-hailing platform rejects claims that Simthande Myeza was using its platform during abduction in Durban
Simthande Myeza, a digital creator from Durban who alleged he was abducted while using Bolt. Image: Instagram In a strong rebuttal to claims that popular Durban influencer Simthande Myeza was abducted while using their platform, Bolt has issued a statement defending its reputation amidst growing public concern over safety in the e-hailing industry. The statement comes on the heels of a distressing incident reported by Myeza's family, who allege that he was kidnapped on the night of June 17 in the Umbilo area of Durban. "Based on the available data, we can confirm that the incident described did not occur during a Bolt trip," asserted Lerato Motsoeneng, Senior General Manager of Bolt South Africa. "We also have strong reasons to believe that the drivers who took trips from locations relevant to the incident had nothing to do with it." Bolt's response came amid a surge of public unease regarding the safety protocols employed by e-hailing services. Following the reported incident, the platform launched an internal investigation to identify any possible connections between its services and the alleged abduction. Motsoeneng explained that, according to Bolt's verified trip data, Myeza requested a ride at 3pm on the day of the incident. The company emphasised that its algorithm matches riders and drivers in real time without any prior knowledge of the rider's identity. The ride was completed, and the drop-off point was approximately 114 metres from Myeza's originally requested location, a variance that is considered acceptable due to GPS accuracy. Furthermore, the records indicate that Myeza did not engage in any Bolt trip activity later that evening, despite his claims of being taken at around 8pm. Instead, a different driver, unrelated to the initial trip, was matched to a return journey ordered from a separate account, reinforcing Bolt's assertion that the incident was not associated with their platform. 'We have officially shared all our findings with the relevant authorities and are committed to fully cooperating with them,' Motsoeneng continued. 'Our safety and operations teams continue to support law enforcement by providing all relevant trip data, maintaining secure and tamper-proof records.' Moreover, Bolt stated that should the investigation reveal any slanderous claims against the company, it would contemplate legal action. In light of the situation, Bolt has been in contact with Myeza to facilitate further inquiries, aiming to address any lingering concerns surrounding the safety of their service. As the investigation progresses, Bolt remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring user safety, asserting that the well-being of its community is paramount. The platform has reiterated its ongoing engagement with law enforcement in a bid to uphold the trust placed in it by its users.
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- The Citizen
Bolt pokes holes in TikToker Simthande Myeza's abduction claims
Bolt says its records do not support the version of events shared by Myeza's family. E-hailing service Bolt has dismissed claims that TikToker Simthande Myeza was abducted during one of its trips, citing findings from its internal investigation. Myeza's family recently released a statement, alleging he was abducted during his Bolt ride on Tuesday, 17 June, in the Umbilo area in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Family spokesperson Lomsongaka Myeza said Simthande became suspicious when the driver took an unexpected route, prompting him to ask the driver to make a U-turn. 'That's when the driver became agitated and eventually stopped the car. Two other African males approached the vehicle, and one of them pointed a gun at Simthande. The other blindfolded him, tied his hands, and drove with him to an unknown location,' the family's statement read. READ MORE: Simthande Myeza 'abducted and robbed' during e-hailing trip: TikToker's family speaks Bolt: 'The incident described did not occur during a Bolt trip' In a statement released on Wednesday, Bolt South Africa's Senior General Manager, Lerato Motsoeneng, said their records do not support the version of events shared by Myeza. 'Following the 17 June incident reported on social media, we launched a thorough internal investigation. Based on the available data, we can confirm that the incident described did not occur during a Bolt trip,' Motsoeneng said. According to the statement, Myeza requested a ride at 15:03 on 17 June. The trip was completed by a verified driver, with the drop-off location within 114 metres of the intended destination — a margin Bolt says falls within normal GPS accuracy. 'We can confirm that the rider and driver were alone in the vehicle. We subsequently checked the driver's details and found out that he has been driving using the Bolt app since December 2024. 'Mr Myeza said in a media statement that the incident took place at around 20:00 the same evening. Our records do not show any Bolt trip activity associated with him during that time.' Motsoeneng added that the alleged return trip mentioned on social media was also investigated. 'This second trip involved a different driver, ordered from a separate rider account. The driver was matched using our standard algorithm, which means he could not have known in advance who the passenger would be.' Bolt said it has shared its findings with relevant authorities and will continue to assist law enforcement. 'Based on the outcome of the official investigation, we will decide whether to pursue legal action against any claims found to be defamatory towards Bolt.' Efforts to reach Myeza for comment were unsuccessful. The Citizen has sent queries to the KwaZulu-Natal police for an update on the case and will update the story once a response is received. NOW READ: 'If I were Orlando Pirates coach, I'd let it loose,' says Pirates coach lookalike, actor Mbulelo Grootboom
The South African
24-06-2025
- The South African
Bolt reacts to YouTuber's alleged kidnapping
E-hailing company Bolt expressed concern and sympathy following the alleged kidnapping of a YouTuber, Simthande Myeza. He was allegedly abducted in Durban while travelling in a Bolt vehicle. Senior General Manager of Bolt South Africa, Lerato Motsoeneng, described the incident as deeply disturbing. He said Bolt is handling the matter with the utmost seriousness and will fully support the relevant authorities in addressing it. 'Our safety team has reached out to the individual to gather more information and better understand what occurred. While we are still in the process of verifying the trip information, we remain committed to engaging all parties to ensure the matter is thoroughly addressed,' said Motsoeneng. SAFETY REMAINS BOLT'S TOP PRIORITY The e-hailing company says safety is its highest priority. Motsoeneng said Bolt remains deeply committed to ensuring every Bolt ride is a safe and trusted experience. 'We will continue to work closely with the relevant law enforcement authorities and act decisively as soon as we have the information needed to do so,' added Motsoeneng. Myeza's family said the online comedian is safe and currently recovering. The family added that they are allowing the law to take its course. KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Umbilo police are investigating a case of kidnapping. In a statement, the family said that the Bolt driver took the incorrect route before stopping the car. Thereafter, two others held Myeza at gunpoint. The family claimed that they drove Myeza to an unknown location and cleaned out his bank account before demanding a ransom from his family and friends. They also claim that kidnappers stripped him of his clothes and took pictures and videos of him while forcing him to perform acts. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- The Citizen
Bolt SA responds after TikToker's alleged abduction
The content creator was allegedly abducted and robbed during a Bolt ride in Durban. Bolt South Africa says it is taking the case of TikTok content creator Simthande Myeza seriously after he was allegedly abducted and robbed during a ride in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. According to a statement from Myeza's family, he was abducted last Tuesday in the Umbilo area in Durban and released in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The family said Myeza became suspicious when the driver took a different route, and he then asked the driver to make a U-turn. 'That's when the driver became agitated and eventually stopped the car. Two other African males approached the vehicle, and one of them pointed a gun at Simthande. The other blindfolded him, tied his hands and drove with him to an unknown location,' the statement read. READ MORE: Simthande Myeza 'abducted and robbed' during e-hailing trip: TikToker's family speaks Bolt says rider safety is a top priority Bolt South Africa's Senior General Manager, Lerato Motsoeneng, said the company is aware of the incident and has reached out to Myeza. 'We are aware of the incident currently being shared online involving a rider, Simthande Myeza, who reportedly experienced a deeply disturbing situation while using our platform. 'We want to express our sincere concern and sympathy. We're committed to handling this matter with the utmost seriousness and will fully support the relevant authorities in addressing it,' Motsoeneng said. Motsoeneng added that Bolt is still in the process of verifying the trip information and will engage with all parties to ensure the matter is thoroughly addressed. 'The safety of our community is our highest priority. We remain deeply committed to doing everything we can to ensure that every ride on Bolt is a safe and trusted experience. 'We will continue to work closely with the relevant law enforcement authorities and act decisively as soon as we have the information needed to do so.' NOW READ: Gayton McKenzie says he's 'gonna fight very hard' for at least one Bok game to be broadcast to everyone
IOL News
21-06-2025
- IOL News
Simthande Myeza's kidnapping raises alarm in KZN e-hailing community
Simthande Myeza was abducted while using Bolt. Image: Instagram The KwaZulu-Natal e-hailing community has been left reeling following the kidnapping of Simthande Myeza, a popular content creator, during an e-hailing trip in Durban earlier this week. The incident has sparked concern over the safety of riders and drivers alike, prompting a formal response from the KZN E-Hailing Council. According to Myeza's family, the 28-year-old was abducted on the evening of Tuesday, June 17, while using an e-hailing service in the Umbilo area. In a statement by family spokesperson, Lomsongaka Myeza, the incident began when the driver allegedly deviated from the intended route. He requested that the driver turn back, but instead, the car stopped, and two armed men approached. 'One of the men pointed a gun at Simthande, while the other blindfolded him, tied his hands, and drove him away to an unknown location,' said Lomsongaka. Once taken, the men allegedly accessed Myeza's phone, emptied his bank account, and coerced him into soliciting money from family and friends. After receiving payment, the attackers reportedly forced him to undress and took compromising photos and videos, coercing him into what the family described as "despicable acts." Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that a kidnapping case is being investigated. 'The victim requested the services of an e-hailing vehicle, however the driver drove towards a different direction. Along the way, two other men got into the vehicle and the three men took the victim to a house where he was reportedly made to withdraw an undisclosed amount of money,' said Netshiunda. No arrests have yet been made. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading In response, the KZN E-Hailing Council released a statement expressing deep concern over the incident and confirming that they had taken immediate steps to investigate. 'The e-hailing fraternity in Durban woke up to the deeply troubling news of an incident involving Simthande Myeza, who was reportedly abducted and forced to empty his bank accounts,' the statement reads. A Council representative was dispatched to visit Myeza and attempt to access trip data from his rider profile, but was unable to retrieve the necessary information. They then requested the credentials Myeza used to register on the app and formally approached Bolt, the e-hailing service believed to have been involved, for assistance. 'Bolt confirmed that they were already aware of the incident and had been in contact with both Myeza and the South African Police Service to aid in the ongoing investigation,' said the Council. The statement also included a plea to the driver who allegedly transported Myeza home after the attack. 'The Council is urgently appealing to the driver who transported Myeza home, after the abductors had ordered a ride on his behalf, to come forward. Your cooperation could prove vital in resolving this case and bringing those responsible to justice.' The KZN E-Hailing Council concluded by urging the public to allow law enforcement and the platform provider the necessary time and space to complete their investigations thoroughly.
