South Africans Badly affected in the Bolt Fake Ride Request Trend

The ride-hailing app Bolt has recently found itself at the center of a chaotic trend that has significantly impacted its users in South Africa. 

This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the fake ride request trend, involves users from South Africa and Nigeria ordering rides only to cancel them shortly after, leading to frustration and financial losses for drivers. 

As Bolt users engage in this viral challenge, the consequences are being felt acutely across both nations.

The trend is alleged to have begun as a form of typical online pettiness on the part of South Africans who pranked drivers in Nigeria by booking rides on Bolt and Uber and then canceling them. 

The Rise of the Fake Ride Requests: The Prank and Retaliation

The fake ride requests began as a social media trend, with South African users initiating what they called the “Request in Nigeria Challenge.” 

This involved booking rides in Nigeria via Bolt and then canceling them once the driver arrived at the pickup location. 

The intent was to prank Nigerian drivers, but it quickly escalated into a tit-for-tat situation as Nigerian users retaliated by doing the same to South African drivers. This is another online battle for dominance. 

The trend has not only disrupted the operations of Bolt but has also led to a significant waste of resources, particularly fuel, for drivers who are left waiting for rides that are never completed. 

One driver from Cape Town lamented, “I drove from Cape Town to Stellenbosch to pick up a customer only to realize it was a fake request. That’s almost 50km worth of fuel gone because of internet jokes”.

Bolt’s Response

Yahaya Mohammed, Country Manager, Nigeria at the ride-hailing company Bolt, said, “Bolt is aware of the fake ride request incident between some individuals in Nigeria and South Africa. We have successfully taken measures to resolve the issue of fake ride requests affecting our driver-partners, particularly those operating in Nigeria and South Africa. The integrity and safety of our platform, both for driver-partners and riders, is our utmost priority.”

Per the company, after a thorough investigation and enhanced security measures, it has addressed the issue by limiting inter-country ride requests and blocking the offenders from the Bolt app.

Despite these efforts, the fake ride request trend continues to be a topic of discussion, reflecting broader tensions between South Africans and Nigerians. 

The rivalry has highlighted the need for better policies and safeguards within ride-hailing apps to prevent misuse and protect drivers from such disruptive behaviors.

As the situation evolves, it remains crucial for both users and companies like Bolt to foster a more respectful and responsible environment in the ride-hailing industry, ensuring that the livelihoods of drivers are not compromised for the sake of online entertainment.

The Underlying Tensions

Some Nigerian users on X have tagged the prank by South Africans as retaliation against Nigerians following the controversial withdrawal of Chidinma Adetshina, a 23-year-old Nigerian-South African law student from Soweto, from the Miss South Africa pageant. 

Following backlash from several South Africans over her nationality, Adetshina stepped down from the pageant, leading to increased tensions between South Africans and Nigerians online.

Her decision followed an investigation by South Africa’s Home Affairs Department indicating that the 23-year-old’s mother might have stolen an identity to obtain South African citizenship. 

In response to the development, South Africans allegedly began booking rides in Nigeria through the Bolt and Uber apps and canceling them to waste the time of Nigerian drivers. 

This act was quickly reciprocated by Nigerians, who began doing the same in South Africa.

Read Next: Bolt Nigeria Processes Over 1,000 Insurance Claims for Drivers and Riders Since 2020

Impact on Drivers and the Community 

The fake ride requests have had dire consequences for drivers who rely on these rides for their livelihood. 

Bolt’s policy does not reimburse drivers for fuel spent on canceled rides, leading many to refuse long-distance requests until the situation normalizes. 

This has created a ripple effect, causing frustration among drivers who are already facing high fuel prices and economic challenges.

Moreover, the prank has resulted in artificial surges in ride prices, leaving many Bolt users stranded and exacerbating tensions between the two nations. 

As the trend continued to escalate, Bolt took decisive action by blocking numerous accounts involved in the prank and restricting inter-country ride requests to mitigate the chaos.

Social Media and Public Reaction

The fake ride request trend has sparked a significant reaction on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). 

Users from both countries have taken to the platform to share their experiences, often mocking each other and escalating the rivalry. 

Hashtags like “Aura for Aura” and “Nigerians vs. South Africans” have trended, highlighting the ongoing digital battle for supremacy between the two nations.

However, amidst the humor and rivalry, there are voices calling for a truce, recognizing the negative impact on innocent drivers. 

Many users have expressed concern for those who depend on ride-hailing services for their daily income, urging their fellow citizens to consider the consequences of their actions.

As of now, the trend continues, with both sides engaging in what has become a highly publicized and somewhat toxic online rivalry.

Was this information useful? Drop a nice comment below. You can also check out other useful contents by following us on X/Twitter @siliconafritech, Instagram @Siliconafricatech, or Facebook @SiliconAfrica.