Irate residents in Soweto have blocked roads following the killing of an e-hailing driver on Wednesday, 13 August.
Two others were injured when their e-hailing vehicles were set alight at Maponya Mall, sparking outrage. The incident is allegedly linked to tensions between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers.
Community members are demanding swift action, saying business cannot continue as usual after the attack.
POLICE PRESENCE HEIGHTENED
As protests continue outside the mall, police visibility has been increased. Residents have also placed stones across the road to block access.
Political leaders have joined e-hailing drivers in calling for safety to be prioritised. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) condemned the violence, saying it is disturbingly common for taxi drivers to intimidate e-hailing drivers and their passengers.
In a statement, the party alleged that taxi drivers often forcibly remove passengers from e-hailing vehicles and coerce them into using taxis instead.
“Drivers have been intimidated and accused of stealing business from taxi operators, although in reality, fully loaded taxis are a frequent sight in South Africa. This points not to a lack of demand, but rather to an unhealthy obsession with monopolising the public transport space,” the MK Party said.
GAUTENG MEC STRONGLY CONDEMNS VIOLENCE
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, strongly condemned the incident, describing it as senseless, unacceptable, and a direct threat to the safety and stability of the public transport system.
She said no dispute justifies the taking of a life and stressed that such violence cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. Diale-Tlabela also urged taxi associations and e-hailing operators to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue.
DO YOU THINK AUTHORITIES ARE DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT E-HAILING DRIVERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11.
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