Anele Mdoda
By Nkosana Khumalo
Anele Mdoda, a well-known South African radio personality, has revealed a terrifying encounter with an Uber driver in Cape Town who threatened her with rape after she selected the “do not talk to me” option for her ride. The incident, which she recorded and shared on social media, has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about passenger safety in Uber services, especially in the Mother City. Mdoda’s ordeal, coupled with the driver’s aggressive behaviour at her hotel drop-off, has ignited a broader conversation about the vetting and accountability of ride-hailing drivers in South Africa.
A Night of Fear Unfolds in Cape Town
Anele Mdoda, a household name thanks to her vibrant presence on 947’s Anele and the Club, took to X on 23 February 2025 to recount a chilling experience that unfolded during an Uber ride in Cape Town. According to her posts, the trouble began when the driver grew agitated over her choice of the “do not talk to me” option—a feature designed to let passengers enjoy a quiet trip. Instead of respecting her preference, the driver lashed out.
“My @uber driver tonight was upset that I had picked the don’t talk to me option. He then said ‘in my country we would rape you to teach you a lesson’ and I had to fake being on Instagram Live to get home safe,” Anele wrote in a post timestamped 15:11 PST on 23 February 2025. She added, “Then when he got to my hotel he started shouting at me and I really recorded and this is what ensued and there was a couple that could see I was under duress.”
Fearing for her safety, Anele began recording the incident. “So after he threatened me with rape to keep in line I started recording so that if anything happens to me it’s on record. I faked being on Instagram Live,” she explained in a follow-up post at 15:37 PST, tagging @Uber_Support and @Uber_RSA. She urged her followers to “watch till the end” of the video she shared, which captured the driver’s escalating aggression.
Anele later apologised for her language in the recording, saying, “I apologise for my language. I was in danger.” Her raw honesty struck a chord with fans and fellow media personalities alike, including Gareth Cliff, who responded, “That’s unbelievable. Glad you’re ok, @Anele.”
A Couple Witnesses the Distress
Anele’s account took an even more troubling turn when she mentioned a couple who saw her distress at the hotel drop-off. “There was a couple that could see I was under duress,” she noted, suggesting that the driver’s behaviour was visible enough to alarm bystanders. While she didn’t elaborate on whether the couple intervened, their presence underscores the public nature of the confrontation—and the very real danger she faced.
Posts on X from other users corroborate the chaotic scene. One user, @krugersville, posted at 15:41 PST on 23 February 2025, “Uber drivers in Cape Town are on some wild shit bro… Secondly they told Anele they are capable of raping her because she picked a ‘no speaking’ option. Yeses we really need South African based drivers man this is utterly disgusting.” The sentiment reflects growing frustration with ride-hailing safety in the city.
Social Media Erupts with Outrage
Anele’s revelation quickly gained traction online, with South Africans voicing shock, anger, and concern. Her posts, shared on 23 February 2025, racked up thousands of views and comments within hours. Fans praised her quick thinking—faking an Instagram Live session to deter the driver—while others demanded action from Uber.
“This is terrifying. Anele shouldn’t have to go through this just for wanting a quiet ride,” wrote one X user. Another added, “Uber needs to explain how this guy even got behind the wheel. What’s the vetting process?” The hashtag #AneleMdoda began trending on X in South Africa by 10:43 PM PST, alongside calls for better safety measures in ride-hailing services.
Gareth Cliff’s supportive comment—“That’s unbelievable. Glad you’re ok, @Anele”—added weight to the discussion, given his own prominence in the radio industry. Meanwhile, posts like @krugersville’s highlighted a pattern of troubling incidents involving Uber drivers in Cape Town, including a separate claim of a driver fleeing with a passenger’s laptop.
Uber’s Response: Silence So Far
As of 10:43 PM PST on 23 February 2025, neither @Uber_Support nor @Uber_RSA had publicly responded to Anele’s posts, despite her tagging them directly. This lack of immediate comment has only fuelled public frustration. Uber South Africa’s official website touts a commitment to safety, with features like driver screening, trip tracking, and an in-app emergency button. Yet, Anele’s experience has cast doubt on how effectively these measures protect passengers.
In the past, Uber has faced criticism in South Africa over safety incidents. In 2022, a Cape Town woman reported an assault by an Uber driver, prompting the company to suspend the individual and launch an investigation, as noted by IOL. More recently, posts on X have flagged erratic behaviour by drivers, with @krugersville’s mention of a laptop theft pointing to broader concerns. Without an official statement, speculation is rife about what Uber will do next.
Cape Town’s Uber Troubles: A Growing Concern
Anele’s incident isn’t an isolated case in Cape Town, a city known for its tourism boom and reliance on ride-hailing services. Posts found on X suggest a troubling trend. @krugersville’s 23 February 2025 rant—“Uber drivers in Cape Town are on some wild shit bro”—listed multiple grievances, including Anele’s ordeal and the laptop theft. While these claims remain unverified, they echo a sentiment shared by many Capetonians: something’s amiss with Uber’s operations in the city.
Crime stats paint a grim backdrop. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), Cape Town recorded a spike in aggravated robberies in 2024, with transport hubs and public spaces often targeted. Ride-hailing drivers, who operate in this environment, aren’t immune to scrutiny. A 2023 News24 report detailed how some drivers faced exploitation by syndicates, raising questions about who’s really behind the wheel.
Anele’s choice of the “do not talk to me” option—intended as a simple preference—turned into a flashpoint. It’s a feature Uber rolled out globally in 2019, marketed as a way to customise rides. But her driver’s reaction suggests a deeper issue: a lack of respect for passenger boundaries, possibly compounded by cultural or personal attitudes.
Safety in the Spotlight: What’s at Stake
Anele’s story has thrust Uber’s safety protocols under a microscope. South Africa’s high gender-based violence (GBV) rate—among the worst globally—makes her account especially alarming. The SA National Gender-Based Violence Survey (2023) found that 1 in 3 women had experienced physical violence, with public spaces like transport often cited as danger zones. For a driver to weaponize a rape threat against a woman exercising her right to silence is a stark reminder of these risks.
The incident also highlights the vulnerability of solo female passengers. Anele’s decision to record and fake an Instagram Live session was a survival tactic, one that likely saved her from worse harm. “I started recording so that if anything happens to me it’s on record,” she said, a heartbreaking admission of how real the threat felt.
Public reaction on X has zeroed in on Uber’s driver vetting process. “We need South African based drivers,” @krugersville argued, hinting at unease with foreign nationals in the role—a sensitive topic given the country’s history of xenophobic tensions. While Uber requires background checks and vehicle inspections, gaps clearly remain. A 2024 TimesLIVE investigation revealed that some drivers use fake IDs to bypass screening, a loophole that could explain how Anele’s driver slipped through.
Anele Mdoda: A Voice for Change
Anele Mdoda is no stranger to speaking out. Known for her bold takes on air and online, she’s tackled everything from body positivity to social justice. Her decision to share this incident publicly—complete with video evidence—has amplified its impact. “Watch till the end,” she urged, ensuring the driver’s behaviour couldn’t be ignored.
Her celebrity status has given the story legs, but it’s her relatability that’s struck a nerve. “I apologise for my language. I was in danger,” she said, a humanising touch that’s resonated with fans. On X, supporters hailed her bravery. “Anele’s a fighter. She turned a nightmare into a wake-up call,” one user wrote.
This isn’t the first time she’s faced adversity head-on. In 2022, she clapped back at trolls mocking her weight, earning praise for her resilience, as reported by The South African. Now, she’s turning a personal crisis into a public reckoning, forcing a conversation about safety that Uber can’t dodge.
What Happens Next?
As the story unfolds, all eyes are on Uber. Will they suspend the driver? Issue an apology? Tighten their vetting? The company’s silence so far—nearly seven hours after Anele’s posts as of 10:43 PM PST—hasn’t gone unnoticed. Past incidents suggest they’ll eventually respond with a statement promising “swift action,” but for many, that’s not enough.
For Anele, the focus is recovery and accountability. She hasn’t shared further updates since her initial posts, likely processing the trauma. Her call to @Uber_Support and @Uber_RSA remains unanswered publicly, though private talks may be underway.
The broader fallout could reshape ride-hailing in South Africa. Activists are already pushing for stricter regulations, with some on X suggesting a boycott until Uber acts. “We can’t keep risking our lives for a lift,” one user posted. Meanwhile, SAPS could get involved if Anele files a formal complaint—her recording would be key evidence in any case.
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