On-line taxi agency Bolt has restricted “inter-country” requests between Nigeria and South Africa after the 2 international locations’ social media rivalry reached an all-time excessive – or low – with folks reserving after which cancelling rides within the different nation as a prank.
The drivers have been pawns on this malicious recreation as they have been despatched on a wild goose chase to seek out passengers who weren’t even in the identical nation.
Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Zimbabwean Bolt driver based mostly in Cape City, informed the BBC he obtained three journey requests earlier than he realised they weren’t real. He stated he wasted a number of gas, money and time.
Bolt informed the BBC it had recognized and blocked customers taking part on this merciless recreation.
“We perceive the influence this example has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa,” it stated in an announcement.
It stated inter-country requests would nonetheless work between different international locations.
Mr Chinyama informed the BBC he had been inundated with insulting messages via the Bolt messaging characteristic that connects drivers with passengers.
He stated he was referred to as numerous names, together with “Mandela’s son”.
It’s unclear how this “Bolt conflict” began however social media customers in sub-Saharan Africa’s two largest economies have a protracted historical past of trolling one another.
“Once I’m bored, I request [Bolt] in Nigeria, akere their brothers are disrespecting us,” one person stated on X on Tuesday. This appears to have set off the chain of occasions and Nigerians swiftly retaliated.
A disgruntled Nigerian driver based mostly in Kano informed the BBC he obtained an order for an airport journey from a world quantity however the individual didn’t present up.
“I attempted calling and calling however they didn’t reply. Then they cancelled the journey,” he stated.
He stated he wasn’t the one sufferer. Lots of his colleagues confronted comparable points.
Some social media customers rallied behind the drivers, saying they have been simply attempting to make a residing.
“Uber and Bolt drivers are simply attempting to make ends meet. They aren’t on twitter trolling anybody. They’re actually attempting to earn an sincere residing. Please depart them alone. And that i’m speaking to either side,” one X person wrote.
A second individual stated: “The bolt problem is paining me as a result of it’s harmless and hardworking folks on either side which might be struggling for the wickedness and thoughtlessness of different folks. Actually unfair.”
In Nigeria gas costs have rocketed in current months. Many drivers would have wasted scarce gas selecting up non-existent prospects.
The “Bolt-war” additionally reportedly induced costs to surge in each international locations, leaving many individuals stranded as they couldn’t afford to pay for his or her rides.
South Africans and Nigerians typically lock horns on social media.
They rowed most just lately over the Miss South Africa controversy which noticed a half-Nigerian contestant step down following xenophobic abuse.
The 2 African heavyweights have additionally pitted their popstars Tyla and Arya Starr in opposition to each other and exchanged insults over their nationwide soccer groups.