A 26-year-old primary school teacher from Stellenbosch is recovering from injuries after escaping an attempted abduction by jumping out of a moving Uber vehicle.
Denusha Nicholas, who teaches at Vlottenburg Primary School, booked an Uber around 15:00 to travel from Stellenbosch to Kuils River.
However, the ride took a terrifying turn when the driver deviated from her requested route – prompting her to act on instinct.
‘You going to see what’s going to happen now’
Nicholas said she began to feel unsafe when the driver veered toward Eerste River.
Attempting to regain control of the situation, she changed her drop-off location to Zevenwacht Mall and tried to communicate the change, but the driver claimed to not understand English, locked the doors and ominously warned her: “You going to see what’s going to happen now.”
In a split-second decision to save herself, Nicholas, seated in the back, managed to open a door and leap from the moving vehicle on Polkadraai Road – despite the driver reportedly grabbing her leg in an attempt to stop her.
Injuries and Delayed Investigation
Nicholas briefly lost consciousness before fleeing for help.
Two men driving by saw her fall and stopped to help as the Uber driver sped away.
The men could not take her to hospital, but dropped her off at a nearby farm where a woman assisted her until her brother arrived and took her to Netcare Kuils River Hospital where she was treated for:
- Head and neck trauma
- Joint injuries
- Bruises and abrasions
She spent seven hours in hospital and has since filed a report with Uber and Kuils River SAPS.
However, delays and confusion in the police handover process have sparked frustration.
Nicholas reported that she had not received a new case number, with Klapmuts police allegedly denying having the file and Stellenbosch SAPS citing system issues.
Police and Uber Response
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg has confirmed an attempted kidnapping case is under investigation.
“Kuils River police registered an attempted kidnapping case for investigation following an incident on Thursday, 28 August 2025, at about 15:26, in Polkadraai Road,” said Twigg.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and arrests are yet to be made.”
Uber has refunded Nicholas for the ride and says its Public Safety Response Team is working with law enforcement to support the investigation.
Community Concerns and Safety Calls
The incident has sparked renewed calls from community leaders and safety groups for greater vigilance when using ride-hailing services.
Riders are urged to:
- Always verify vehicle and driver details
- Share their live trip status with family or friends
- Report any suspicious behaviour immediately
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Do you feel safe when catching an Uber or any other e-hailing service?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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