DURBAN - A Bluff woman urges others who have been harassed by grocery delivery drivers to speak out and nip the problem in the bud.
Jeanette Crerar, 59, is concerned about her safety after exposing the antics of a delivery driver which led to his dismissal.
Last week, for the first time, she had ordered groceries using the Pick n Pay app.
However, the delivery driver, a man who later identified himself as Congolese, sent her a few text messages on WhatsApp, propositioning her.
Crerar informed the Pick n Pay branch. The delivery employee then sent her a message saying: “My risky job is over.”
Crerar fears for her life, knowing that the driver has her contact number and address.
On WhatsApp the man wrote: “Yeah, I’m Congolese man. I know respect woman in my life and I want shere my life with you only if you are okay with that. Since m here the south African I never find a good friend too. Please dont block me too I like to be with you together.” (sic)
The message also included an emoji icon blowing a heart. About an hour later, he texted: “Why you dont talk to me yet?”
Twenty minutes later and after two WhatsApp calls to Crerar, that she did not answer, he wrote; “I’m sorry for writing to you on WhatsApp my boss and my manager come tell me my risky job is over to know I’m doing excuse me really I’m really sorry for everything.”
Crerar said that for a R209 order, “my whole life is now turned upside down”.
She said the unemployment rate among South Africans was high. She questioned how delivery companies screened their employees.
“How many other ladies has he done this to? Are they too scared to speak up? How long will he continue doing this?”
Pick n Pay said the driver was not employed by it, adding he was an employee of its service provider, OrderIn.
“We were very disturbed to hear about this experience and engaged with OrderIn immediately, who have since blacklisted him. We can only apologize to our customer for this awful experience and have been in touch with her to offer any support she may need.”
OrderIn said it was the first such incident.
“The driver was immediately blacklisted, having broken the explicit confidentiality clause in his contract. We have spoken to the customer, explaining the steps taken to resolve this unfortunate incident.”
OrderIn said it conducted annual background checks of its independent contractors.
“In line with standard industry practice, customer information is passed on to the contractors in order to contact the customer upon arrival.”
Daily News