Bolt has announced the rollout of Rider Profile Photo in South Africa, a new safety feature designed to strengthen trust, improve driver confidence, and enhance customer experience.
Bolt will ask riders to take a selfie and add it to their Bolt profile. The feature is designed to take a photo on the spot, meaning that adding photos from the phone gallery won’t be allowed.
Riders will be able to add their profile photo by selecting the menu in their Bolt app, tapping View Profile, and using the Edit button on their photo to add one.
Simo Kalajdzic, senior operations manager at Bolt South Africa, says: “South Africa’s ride-hailing industry operates in a unique environment where safety is always top of mind. Rider Profile Photo is more than a feature. It’s part of our commitment to building trust and making every ride feel safer for both drivers and riders.”
Drivers will now more easily identify their passengers at pickup points, reducing uncertainty and helping to prevent misidentification, fraud, or unsafe interactions. The feature is intended solely as a safety tool. It benefits all drivers by providing an extra layer of reassurance before each trip, supporting better acceptance rates and overall driver engagement.