Bolt commends the diligent efforts of the South African police and justice system in securing the conviction of ex-Bolt driver Emmanuel Mudau for his abhorrent crimes. We extend our support to the victims and their families.
Throughout the investigation, Bolt cooperated fully with law enforcement authorities, providing all necessary information and assistance to aid in the successful arrest and prosecution of the suspect.
The safety and well-being of our community are of utmost importance to Bolt. We unequivocally condemn any form of abuse or violence against women, unwavering in our belief that every person has the right to move around without risk of harm, intimidation or coercion.
Bolt has a zero-tolerance policy towards drivers who engage in misconduct or criminal behaviour. Our platform has no place for individuals who perpetrate such heinous acts.
In our ongoing efforts to enhance rider safety, Bolt has implemented various new safety features designed to provide additional peace of mind and security. These features include:
- Through our partnership with the Automobile Association (AA), drivers and riders can access an emergency response service integrated into the app. Activating this service shares the driver/rider’s details and location with AA’s 24/7 contact centre and then deploys private security and emergency services immediately.
- Drivers and riders can now initiate an audio recording of their trip within the Bolt app, offering a solution in situations where they may feel unsafe during the trip. The recorded audio can be easily reported to Bolt’s Customer Support team, facilitating swift and efficient handling of safety-related concerns.
- Through the trip monitoring feature, Bolt will now have the ability to automatically engage with riders and drivers in-app when a vehicle remains stationary for too long to confirm that everything is okay.
- We have introduced a driver selfie verification feature to increase passenger safety by combating driver impersonation. The feature has been fully rolled out to all drivers operating on the Bolt platform across South Africa. It will require drivers to take a selfie, thus verifying their identity before going online. The driver’s selfie will be matched against the Government database (Department of Home Affairs) to ensure the right driver is behind the wheel. Drivers, at random, will also be prompted occasionally to share a live selfie to ensure that the correct driver is behind the wheel while online.
These safety measures empower riders to feel confident and secure when using the Bolt app, knowing their safety is our top priority.
Bolt remains dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all our users, and we will continue to work collaboratively with law enforcement agencies, regulators, and community stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety and integrity.