Uber driver attacked at Pretoria Gautrain station

Innocent passengers continue to be caught up in the turf battle between metered taxi and Uber drivers.

The Gautrain station in Centurion.

On Monday morning, Jan Berrange, 33, witnessed the latest attack on the driver who had just dropped him off at the Gautrain station in Centurion just outside of Pretoria, Centurion Rekord reports.

Berrange said as he got off the Uber taxi, a metered taxi driver fuelled by rage attacked the Uber driver.

“I have built a relationship of trust with this Uber driver, who picks me up from home and drops me at the Gautrain station every morning. The metered taxi drivers were waiting for Uber drives dropping their passengers at the station and then violently damaging their cars with sticks,” said Berrange.

Berrange said the Uber driver escaped, but what about the damage done to his car?

“I was screaming at these animals, yes, I called them that from the side of the road with heavy swearwords that no person should ever read, hear or let alone say,” Berrange said, still very angry.

He said that he wished the feud would end.

“I wish the police or the government would get involved to support the communities. The customers have the option to pay for the service they want without intimidation. My service provider should not be attacked just because I chose their service.”

The police issued a statement on Monday instructing the police to monitor the situation.

“It remains the responsibility of all law enforcement in Gauteng to deploy in affected areas and perform interventions preventing any eventualities and arrest all offenders. The operation will require the commitment of all role players to ensure success. The instruction starts with immediate effect.”