E-Hailing Driver Robbery in Philippi Caught on CCTV Footage, South Africans Shaken

• South Africans reacted with shock and sadness after a video of a robbery in the Cape Flats went viral on social media
• The clip shows how an Uber-hailing driver was robbed earlier in the week, capturing the entire ordeal the driver experienced
• South Africans weighed in, and some commented that Philippi is one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Cape Town

Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

PHILIPPI, CAPE TOWN — South Africans were worried about the safety of e-hailing drivers after a driver was robbed in Philippi in Cape Town on 5 September 2025. A clip of the incident went viral.

MDN News posted a video of the incident on its @MDNnewss X account. The video shows the robbery from the view of a dashcam. It begins without any incident. A truck parked in front of the car begins to drive. Suddenly, an unseen suspect starts banging on the side of the window, swearing and demanding that the driver open his window.

Read also

Gauteng high speed chase ends in shootout, SA applauds police as 4 house robbers are fatally wounded

A second later, the suspect appears on the camera and crosses over to the other side of the vehicle. The suspect then continues to demand that the driver give him his phone, and the driver offers the phone hurriedly. The robber also takes his wallet before disappearing. The driver then drives off.

View the X video here:

Robberies caught on camera

Dashcam footage of thieves robbing a courier deliveryman went viral in January 2025. The video shows the driver asking someone for directions when a man appears in the driver's side and grabs his phone. Another man demands that he exit the vehicle.

CCTV footage showed how Tellos Restaurant in Sebokeng, Emfuleni was robbed on 8 February 025. Armed suspects enter the establishments and start robbing the place, taking money from the tills and threatening the staff.

A chaotic robbery of a tavern in South Africa went viral in March. Gunmen disrupt the patrons having a good time and start shooting, scattering the patrons in fear. One patron looked seemingly unbothered by the chaos.

Read also

Delivery driver allegedly steals customer's order on camera: "Stole my food"

What did South Africans say?

Newtixrns commenting on X were worried about safety in Philippi.

Khaltsha asked:

"Why accept trips in Philippi when you know the vibes?"

Mntaka Bhuti said:

"Philippi, Elsies River, Bishop Lavies and Dunoon: do not go to those places, even if they offer you a thousand rand to take them there."

Donovan Calvin Meyer asked:

"Who still drives to Philippi?"

Mandilakhe Dlula said:

"Philippi, Khayelitsha, and Mfuleni are no-go areas in Cape Town."

Athi said:

"These smash-and-grabs are frequent in the area."

CCTV captures failed robbery

In a related article, Briefly News reported that CCTV footage captured how would-be robbers failed in their mission to break into a house. They went viral on Facebook.

In the clip, one of the suspects tries to take the electricity gate off its runner to enter the property. However, the gate's electric wires catch the back of the robber as it falls.

Source: Briefly News