Uber driver relives acid attack by ‘client’
Man accuses firm of lack of support
A 34-year-old Uber driver has relived a horrific chemical attack in the hands of a man pretending to be a passenger.
Kgomotso Tiro, 34, yesterday told Sowetan that he was haunted by what happened to him on August 6 when he received a pick-up request in Northcliff, Johannesburg.
He said he had picked up a man who “pretended to be drunk”. The passenger had not punched in a drop-off address. He had also used someone else’s phone to make the request.
“He said he would direct me to where he was going. When he told me to turn, I would turn. He had a container but I did not think there was a harmful chemical inside.
“[All of a sudden] he poured it over my head, body and hands. The chemical was removing my skin. I was wearing a jacket so it burnt my clothes.
“He then took out a lighter and set me alight. I then jumped out of the car,” he said.
Tiro said he rolled himself on the ground and took off his clothes to prevent severe burns to his body.
The man drove off in his Toyota Corolla.
“I cried and prayed. I was in so much pain but I believe in God... prayer saw me through. It made me strong.”
He said he had been admitted at Helen Joseph Hospital and was discharged on Friday.
The car was recovered but no arrests were made.
“I cannot use my hands. I am still in pain. My girlfriend is the one who has been bathing, clothing, dressing my wounds and feeding me.
“I was a breadwinner. I am worried because the instalment on my car is going to bounce this month,” he said.
He pays R3 300 towards the car and has taken out R1 900 passenger liability insurance. He also pays R2 900 rent for the place he shares with his girlfriend. “I’m trying not to stress about money but to focus on my health,” said Tiro, a first-year BCom Accounting student at Unisa.
He said he was angry at Uber for not reaching out.
“They claim to have come to the hospital but were denied access... but my former colleagues visited me without any problems. I am sad and angry about the manner they treated me,” he said.
Tiro said though the company deposited R39 000 into a relative’s account in case he wanted to move to a private hospital, he opted to stay in a public hospital because he did not know how much his medical bills would be.
Uber spokeswoman Samantha Allenberg said they were investigating the incident.
“We are fully aware of this terrible incident which is deeply upsetting to all of us at Uber. We have made every effort to visit him in hospital and met with his family.
“We continue to stay in contact with them. We will make contact again today (yesterday) to ensure he knows we are there to support him.”