Indonesia protests: A Grab motorcycle driver killed in Makassar

A Grab motorcycle driver was killed during a protest in Makassar, Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province.

Rusdamdiansyah, a 25-year-old ride-hailing driver for Grab, died after being attacked by a crowd who suspected him of being an undercover agent during a demonstration near a campus.

He was taken to a hospital and died on August 30, 2025.

Local authorities said the attack took place during unrest as protesters accused him of being an intelligence officer.

The 25-year-old’s death marks the second casualty of the ongoing protests in Indonesia after Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old driver, died after being hit by a police vehicle earlier.

🔗 Source: Kumparan

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Gig workers face heightened risks during civil unrest due to street visibility

The tragic death of Rusdamdiansyah highlights a dangerous reality for Indonesia’s estimated 430,000 to 2.3 million gig workers. Their constant street presence makes them vulnerable during periods of social upheaval1.

Motorcycle taxi drivers like Rusdamdiansyah work long hours on public roads, making them highly visible to both authorities and protesters during tense situations.

The current protests were sparked by the death of another motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, allegedly killed by police during demonstrations, showing how gig workers can become both victims and inadvertent participants in civil unrest2.

This vulnerability is compounded by gig workers’ precarious economic position. Many report struggling to meet basic expenses and earning less than $7 for long work shifts, making them unable to avoid dangerous areas when they need income3.

2️⃣ Mistaken identity violence reflects Indonesia’s recurring pattern of mob brutality during protests

Rusdamdiansyah’s death echoes Indonesia’s troubling history of civilians being killed by mobs during civil unrest based on false assumptions about their identities or loyalties.

During the May 1998 riots, over 1,000 people died as mobs targeted individuals based on ethnic identity, with properties marked for protection while others were destroyed4.

The 2019 student protests resulted in 254 injured students and multiple fatalities, including two deaths in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, demonstrating how Indonesian protests frequently escalate to deadly violence5.