The ongoing rivalry between Nigerians and South Africans took another turn this week, as social media platforms, particularly X, became battlegrounds for a new form of conflict dubbed the “Bolt war.”
The tension started on Monday, August 19, 2024, when Nigerians woke up to find South Africa trending online. Reports soon surfaced that some South Africans were deliberately ordering and canceling Bolt rides in Nigeria to frustrate drivers.
A viral video, allegedly recorded on Tuesday, August 20, showed a South African man taunting a Nigerian Bolt driver named Kotoro-Ola after canceling a ride. The video quickly gained traction, fueling anger among Nigerians. Screenshots of conversations and social media posts further confirmed that South Africans were engaging in this tactic, with one user boasting on X, “When I’m bored, I request [Bolt] in Nigeria, akere their brothers are disrespecting us.”
In retaliation, Nigerians launched their campaign on Wednesday, August 21, by ordering Bolt rides in South African cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. This led to a surge in ride requests, creating a shortage of available drivers and causing ride prices to spike. Many South Africans were left stranded, unable to find or afford rides.
Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Zimbabwean Bolt driver based in Cape Town, shared his experience with the BBC, stating, “I received three ride requests before I realized they were not genuine. I wasted a lot of fuel, time, and money.” Chinyama also mentioned that he was inundated with insulting messages through Bolt’s messaging feature, with one person even calling him “Mandela’s son.”
Bolt responded to the escalating situation by restricting “inter-country” ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa. In a statement released on Thursday, August 22, the company said, “We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa. We have identified and blocked users participating in this cruel game.” The company confirmed that inter-country requests would still function between other countries.
A Nigerian Bolt driver based in Kano, who wished to remain anonymous, also spoke out about the issue. He described receiving an order for an airport trip from an international number, only to have the ride canceled after multiple attempts to contact the passenger. “I tried calling and calling, but they didn’t answer. Then they canceled the trip,” he said. The driver noted that many of his colleagues in Nigeria faced similar issues, with some losing scarce and expensive fuel in the process.
Social media reactions have been mixed, with some users condemning the actions on both sides. One X user commented, “Uber and Bolt drivers are just trying to make ends meet. They aren’t on Twitter trolling anyone. They are literally trying to earn an honest living. Please leave them alone. And I’m talking to both sides.” Another user added, “The Bolt challenge is paining me because it’s innocent and hardworking people on both sides that are suffering for the wickedness and thoughtlessness of other people. Really unfair.”
