Google’s Alistair Mokoena, the head of the company in South Africa, announced that both Waze and Google Maps navigation apps will cease directing motorists through Cape Town’s Nyanga township and its adjacent areas due to escalating security concerns.
An American tourist was robbed and shot in the face last week while driving through Nyanga, guided by a navigation app that suggested it as the most direct route from Cape Town International Airport to the city.
During a protest by taxi operators in the same township, 40-year-old British surgeon Kar Hao Teoh was fatally shot in September.
According to local media reports, a handful of individuals, primarily tourists, have encountered attacks or fatalities while passing through the township. Some were following the guidance of navigation apps.
Following Mr. Teoh’s tragic killing, the British government cautioned citizens visiting South Africa to exercise caution when using GPS navigation. They advised against taking alternative routes away from main roads, as these routes could lead individuals into less secure areas.
It added that “most violent crimes occur in townships on the outskirts of major cities or in isolated areas”.