Primary school teacher jumps from moving car to escape alleged abduction
CCN Reporting
Stellenbosh:- A young primary school teacher is recovering after a terrifying Uber trip home turned into a fight for survival, ending with her leaping from a moving vehicle to escape an alleged abduction attempt. 
Police have confirmed that an attempted kidnapping case is under investigation.
On Thursday afternoon, 26-year-old Denusha Nicholas, a teacher at Vlottenburg Primary in Stellenbosch, requested an Uber ride to take her home to Stellendale, Kuils River. But what should have been a routine trip quickly turned into a nightmare.
Nicholas became uneasy when the driver diverted towards Eerste River instead of her requested destination.
“When I asked him why he was driving in that direction, he didn’t answer. Then he adjusted his rearview mirror to look at me. That’s when I called my mother and told her I was feeling unsafe. She prayed for me on the phone and told me to share my live location,” Nicholas recalled.
She then tried to change her trip to Zevenwacht Mall, but the driver allegedly claimed he didn’t understand English before locking the doors.
“I asked why he was locking the doors, and he replied, ‘You are going to see what’s going to happen.’ At that moment I told myself, I am not going to be another statistic. I prayed and decided to jump. I just jumped,” she said.
Two motorists travelling in the opposite direction witnessed Nicholas throwing herself from the car and rushed to her aid.
Uber South Africa confirmed it is aware of the incident and is cooperating with police but would not clarify whether the driver had been removed from the platform.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said:
“Kuils River police registered an attempted kidnapping case for investigation following an incident on Thursday, 28 August 2025, at about 15:26, in Polkadraai Road. The circumstances are under investigation, and no arrests have yet been made.”
Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app anonymously.
Picture – Social Media
