- Some South Africans pranked Nigerian Bolt drivers by cancelling ride orders at the last minute
- Nigerians retaliate by doing the same, ordering food, and expensive items causing a surge in two major South African cities
- Nigerians react, calling Nigerians to stop, others are not relenting
A cyber war broke out on social media in the early hours of Thursday, August 22 leading to a major Bolt Surge in Capetown and Johannesburg. Nigerians reportedly triggered the Bolt surge leaving South Africans stranded due to ride unavailability and soaring prices.
What started as a mischievous prank by some South Africans where Bolt drivers in Nigeria were targeted with cancelled rides has erupted into a full-blown cyber war on X (formerly Twitter).
The prank, which might have started as a joke by a few South Africans, has struck a nerve with Nigerians, who quickly retaliated in their numbers and has now escalated into a fierce digital exchange.
When videos of the prank surfaced on social media, Nigerians wasted no time paying South Africans back in their coin, leading to a Bolt surge in two major cities.
Nigerians did not stop at just ordering and cancelling rides at the last minute, some netizens have posted on their X handles saying they ordered heavy and expensive electronics to be delivered and paid for on delivery at random addresses in South Africa.
One netizen, @Nsukka_okpa posted: “I don order six Washing machine and 3 New plasma TV to arrive at 75 Maude Street, Sandton, Johannesburg this evening. Pay on delivery. Aiboooo Bathong.”
Some Nigerians are also informing others that they can order food from South African food delivery apps with the pay-on-delivery option to random addresses, and cancel at the last minute.
One Nigerian, @iamrollandex posted: “South Africa has restaurants where you order food and pay at delivery. Putting bolt location at airport cost alot because bolt drivers would have to pay for parking space. learn with me.”
However, some South Africans who saw posts of Nigerians pranking their countrymen, revealed that most Bolt drivers are foreigners and mostly Nigerians, this prompted Nigerians to discover other ride-sharing apps that South Africans use and are encouraging others to download them because there are more South African drivers on them.
“Apart from Bolt and Uber, here are list of other Ride-hailing app South Africans use: YoTaxi: A South African-based ride-hailing app, it operates mainly in Johannesburg and other selected areas. DiDi: DiDi, a Chinese ride-hailing giant, launched in South Africa in 2021 and operates in selected cities. InDriver: A newer entrant, InDriver allows passengers to set their own fare, which drivers can accept or negotiate. Zulzi: While primarily a delivery app, Zulzi also offers ride-hailing services in some areas,” @realTobiAkinbo posted.
Cities and towns with more South African drivers were also targeted as some Nigerians said they didn’t want to disturb other African nationals that are not South Africans.
Some netizens advised Nigerians to use their airports as locations because this will cause the drivers more grief as they would have to pay a parking fee at the airport.
@_kathiiie posted: “Abeg when you're booking bolt in south Africa, make them wait at the airport. I heard they pay for parking at the airport. And they pay to cancel ride. Today, we go bolt for bolt.”
The ride-sharing company, Bolt, blocked the accounts of some Nigerians for cancelling multiple trips but they remained unrelenting as they opened new accounts using temporary contact information.
Netizens react to cyber war between South Africans and Nigerians
While some Nigerians seem to be having fun retaliating against South Africa’s Bolt prank, others think it is childish and cruel. Some people have advised Nigerians to stop the pranks and report the South Africans who started it and others are simply finding the humour in the situation. Some Nigerians on X have also said they are not relenting on the pranks any time soon.
Comments trail hot exchagne between Nigerians, South Africans
Here are some of the comments:
@GeneralSnow_ posted: “Dear Nigerians, Abeg the cruise is ok, let’s be bigger abeg 😂 Stop paying bad for bad. Pay bad with Evil. Order a Ride, Put your Location at the Airport, that way the South African drivers will pay parking fee. Let love lead. Bolt for Bolt South Africans.”
@Opeolu_waa posted: “I'm not sure South Africans know how wicked Nigerians can be… Citizens that are currently frustrated by their government, you're trying to whine them and Nigerians no dey quick forget things.”
@xandresparadise posted: “Both the Nigerians and South Africans doing that shit are retarded.”
@thesheddyking posted: “South Africans man. You constantly insult a country with jobless youths, then go ahead to start an internet war with them 😂”
@Yemihazan posted: “South Africans didn't look at their population before embarking on this Bolt challenge with Nigerians? I hate stupidity.”
@Letter_to_Jack posted: “South Africans are humiliating hardworking Nigerians in Nigeria all the way from SA. They have been placing false orders with aim to incur losses for our people.
This madness ends today. We have to stand up for honest Nigerians that are being humiliated by them. Wake up!”
@TheMahleek posted: “South Africans are making ride orders from their country just to stress bolt drivers in Nigeria and even cause a surge?? They should ask around, Nigerians are the craziest set of people they will ever meet. We no dey tire for here😂😂😂”
@aystickz posted: “Just saw three guys on my street ordering bolt from South Africa. They are not even screenshotting or posting, just doing it for the love of the game. 😂 South Africans have no idea what they’ve started.”
@black_bhoy_ posted: “Someone just said South Africans have started Bolt challenge with Nigerians😭😭Honestly, Nigerians are the wrongest set of people to pick a fight with, na you go later beg.”
@XBrianDennis posted: “Of all the things to do against Nigerians, South Africans chose the one thing we are naturally good at - Fooling. They will regret it.”
@itzbasito posted: “Requesting bolt challenge was a dumb move from South Africans, it’s a fight they can’t win. They need to understand that they can never beat Nigerians in a game of numbers, it’s their people that will pay the price. Our population is not for decoration, you price you collect.”
@i_am_feezah posted: “South Africans are cruel with the Bolt thing they started, but you know what is also cruel? The Nigerians retaliating, because you know who is suffering at the end of the day? Innocent people trying to feed their families.”
@Tee_Classiquem1 posted: “South Africans dont understand the fact that nothing unify Nigerians like when people from other country want to bant us, a Yoruba, hausa and an Igbo person can fight dirty on the TL all day but if an outsider should throw a shot, they will set their beef aside and tear you apart.”
@Steadi_lady posted: “This bolt challenge that’s going on between Nigerians and South Africans is annoying because innocent bolt drivers are suffering for it. Imagine looking for your daily meal and some people are using it to play on twitter.”
@Humanist101 posted: “South Africans don buy market oo. 🤣🤣🤣 It will be a lonnggg day😂 Me here with my popcorn and chilled zobo😋 Nigerians please don’t pay evil with evil naw🤭 Where’s the link to order 30 washing machine and industrial iron? 🏃♀️🏃♀️”
@dj_switchaholic posted: “Thoughts: All fun and games… Nice! This stupid game we are playing with pranking cab drivers will have terrible repercussions for Nigerians and South Africans but more so for Nigerians. We understand how bad things are in Nigeria, how high fuel prices are, traffic etc.. Disrupting the lives of drivers and taking valuable time they would have used in making money. There’s also a potentially terrible case scenario where actual Nigerians start getting physically attacked in South Africa if this nonsense gets out of hand. We’ve seen this happen before. I know we hate to take the “L” but think of your fellow Nigerians that are already experiencing excruciating pain with our failing economy and safety. Let this thing go and get back to the issue at hand. We as Africans are our own enemy and it’s a damn shame!”
@47kasz posted: “South Africans are actually not human beings cos why are you ordering bolts in Nigeria all the way from South Africa to stress hard working people.. na Why God created them heads that only a mother can love tL Useless mofos..”
Chidinma withdraws from Miss South Africa competition amid controversies
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that a Nigerian-South Africa contestant vying for the 2024 Miss South Africa crown, Chidinma Vanessa Adetshina, withdrew following recent controversies around her nationality.
Her reasons for withdrawing are said to be for her own safety and for the best interest of her family members.