Teacher forced to jump from moving e-hailing car

A ROUTINE ride recently turned into a terrifying ordeal for a young woman in Stellenbosch, who jumped out of a moving e-hailing vehicle after sensing she was in danger. 

The incident unfolded after Denusha Nicholas became alarmed by the driver’s alleged behaviour and she made a split-second decision to escape, suffering injuries in the process. 

The 26-year-old teacher from Vlottenburg Primary had booked a ride to take her home in Stellendale, Kuils River.

“The driver phoned to inform me that he had to pick up his child and he would then fetch me. He drove past me but there was no one in the car. The man then came back after 10 minutes. He wanted to take the Eersterivier exit but it was in the opposite direction to my home." 

She said the car was dirty and had a foul smell and this prompted her to contact her family. 

“He was also dirty. I informed my mother that I did not feel safe, so I changed my trip to Zevenwacht Mall. When I told him, he said he did not understand English. We then started arguing and he continued to drive in the direction of the Eersterivier exit."  

Nicholas said danger was apparent after he refused to let her leave the car. 

“He locked the doors. I asked him why he locked the doors and he said ‘you are going to see what’s going to happen'. He kept peeking at me from his rearview mirror. I avoided making eye contact with him. I asked him ‘what is your problem? Open these doors now’. I unlocked the doors and he locked it again.”

After repeatedly telling him to stop the car, she made the brave decision to jump out of the moving vehicle. 

"I managed to unlock the door and open it. While jumping out, he tried to grab my legs. I jumped out of the speeding car near Pollkedraai Road in Stellenbosch. I fell unconscious for a bit and then realised I had to run for my life. Two people witnessed what happened and helped me." 

The e-hailing driver sped away.

She said she waited with the men for her brother to arrive. 

“I occasionally use e-hailing services to go to the shops or when my brother cannot pick me up from work. This was the first time I experienced such a bad situation.”

Nicholas sustained injuries to her head, legs and wrists. 

“I spoke to the e-hailing services. By this week, they said they were still busy with the investigation. They reimbursed me for the trip plus they paid for my medical bills."  

She later realised the driver was not the person on the app who was meant to pick her up. 

"The one whose picture was on the app was registered with the e-hailing service but this person was someone else."  

Nicholas said the ordeal was terrifying. 

“The incident is not easy to forget. I started trauma counselling but every day is not the same. I still have a fear that he can get back at me because he has not been arrested." 

A case of attempted kidnapping was opened at Stellenbosch police station.

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