Safety concerns lead to delivery drivers avoiding high-crime areas
Security and paramedics at the scene of the shooting in Crossmoor, Chatsworth
Image: Supplied
Drivers of ride-hailing, food and on-line shopping delivery services fear for their safety and choose to not operate in certain areas around Durban.
Earlier this week a man from Montford in Chatsworth was shot and killed whilst delivering food on Crossmoor Drive in Chatsworth.
Claude Subramodey, the spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said they were called out for assistance to Crossmoor.
"Medics arrived on scene to find a man in his 50s lying on the pavement with gunshot wounds. Sadly the male succumbed to his injuries before medics could arrive. There was nothing more medics could do for him and he was declared deceased on scene," said Subramodey.
Captain Ntathu Ndlovu, police spokesperson, said Chatsworth police were investigating a case of murder and robbery.
"A 58-year-old man was allegedly robbed and fatally wounded whilst working, delivering food in the Crossmoor area in Chatsworth. Police responded to a shooting and upon their arrival at the scene, police found the deceased lying in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds," said Ndlovu.
Zain Kassim, Crossmoor Community Police Forum chairperson, said the victim was shouting for the residents to open when he was accosted by two armed men.
"They shot him, stole his cellphone and fled towards the nearby transit camp.
"Crossmoor Drive has become very dangerous. As a result there are no delivery services willing to make deliveries in that vicinity. This Uber driver was doing the delivery for someone. These guys saw an opportunity when he stopped at the gate," said Kassim.
He said roads around Crossmoor Drive have a high number of crimes because of a pathway and the easy escape to the nearby informal settlements.
"As the CPF we do our best in terms of patrols. We urge residents to join the CPF. The population of Crossmoor is high and there are not adequate numbers of patrollers," said Kassim.
Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa said over the years there have been a number of Uber drivers who have been attacked, robbed, shot, kidnapped and their bodies dumped.
"There was recently an incident where a Uber driver was hijacked, robbed of his cash and attacked. Then there are cases where the Uber driver is lured into certain areas and robbed," said Balram.
He said there were also areas in the north of Durban where transport delivery services were not available because of crime.
"There are certain areas within Phoenix, Verulam, and oThongathi where Uber drivers are considered high risk and no-go areas. As a result people are left stranded for transport. The Uber Eats drivers get robbed of the food that they are delivering," said Balram.
A manager for PT Alarms Fire & Security, who did not want to be named, said crime is widespread throughout Chatsworth, from petty theft to hijacking.