Five suspects, including teenagers, have been arrested following an armed robbery targeting a 20-year-old e-hailing driver in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, after a dashcam video of the incident sparked outrage on social media.

The arrests come after African Times reported on Wednesday that South Africans were demanding action against the suspects seen in the viral footage, which captured the moments leading up to the attempted robbery.

Gauteng police confirmed on Thursday that members of Eldorado Park Crime Intelligence, detectives and Visible Policing had arrested five suspects aged between 15 and 21 following an investigation into the incident.

The breakthrough is expected to bring investigators closer to establishing the circumstances surrounding the robbery, which left the young driver targeted while carrying out his work.

According to police, the incident happened on Tuesday, October 27, at approximately 11 am in Eldorado Park Extension 7.

The driver, who was operating a white Toyota Etios, had responded to a ride request to collect a passenger on Maine Street.

When he arrived, a female suspect allegedly signalled him and entered the front passenger seat before instructing him to wait for her brothers.

Two male suspects subsequently joined them.

Police said that shortly after the second man entered the vehicle, one of the suspects engaged the handbrake while the group allegedly robbed the driver of an undisclosed amount of cash, his driver’s licence, identity document and bank cards.

The situation escalated when a fourth suspect, who was standing outside the vehicle, allegedly fired a gunshot and demanded the driver’s cellphone.

The suspects fled without taking the phone.

No injuries were reported.

The incident attracted widespread attention after dashcam footage circulated on Facebook and X, prompting calls for the police to track down those allegedly involved.

African Times first reported on the incident on Wednesday, when police had not yet publicly commented on the robbery.

The two-minute-and-46-second video captured the interaction between the driver and the suspects before the confrontation unfolded.

At the beginning of the footage, a woman is seen in the front passenger seat, apparently waiting for additional passengers. She tells the driver that two more people are expected to join the trip.

A man wearing a white T-shirt subsequently enters the back seat, while another man approaches the driver and appears to engage him in conversation before getting into the vehicle.

The footage shows the suspects searching the vehicle for valuables as the confrontation develops.

The video sparked concern among social media users about the safety of e-hailing drivers, who regularly collect unfamiliar passengers as part of their work.

The latest arrests mark a significant development in the investigation, with police crediting operational information and follow-up investigations for helping them locate the suspects.

The five suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges relating to armed robbery and firearm offences.

Police have not disclosed the identities of the arrested suspects or indicated whether the firearm allegedly used during the incident has been recovered.

The arrests also highlight the role of cooperation between crime intelligence, detectives and visible policing in following up on reported crimes and gathering information that can assist investigations.

For the young driver, the incident involved more than the loss of personal belongings. The alleged robbery unfolded while he was carrying out his job, with a firearm reportedly discharged during the confrontation.

The police investigation is continuing as the suspects prepare to face the criminal justice system.

The accused will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations in court.