Outrage as e-hailing driver is burnt alive by minibus operators in South Africa’s Maponya Mall

At least one e-hailing driver has died after being shot at and set ablaze, reportedly by minibus operators. The dastardly act, which took place outside the Maponya Mall in Soweto, South Africa, is the latest act of violence in the rivalry between minibus operators and e-hailing drivers tussling for turf in the Soweto district

According to a purported CCTV image of the event seen by Technext, two cars, a white and a red one, could be seen parked outside. Suddenly, a group of assailants could be seen going after the red car, which tried to get away before being halted, reportedly by gunshots. The assailants would then douse the two cars with gasoline before setting them ablaze.

The National e-Hailing Federation of South Africa (NEFSA) confirmed the incident to Technext in a statement co-signed by the Secretary, Omar Parker, and the Chairman, Elijah Ubuntu Lekgokwane. According to Omar Parker, the other driver escaped with serious injuries.

While expressing its deepest condolences to the grieving families, colleagues, and communities, the federation described it as a reflection of the dangerous environment that is the South African public transport sector.

“This horrific act, allegedly stemming from a violent confrontation between certain minibus taxi operators/drivers and e-hailing operators/drivers, is a stain on our democracy and a tragic reflection of a barbaric ‘Wild West’ climate that has been allowed to fester in our public transport sector,” the statement reads.

Long-drawn-out conflict between minibus and e-hailing drivers

The horrific incident is yet another ugly chapter in the long-drawn conflict between e-hailing drivers and minibus operators seeking to control transportation around malls and other public places in Soweto.

Back in June 2023, at least two people were reportedly injured and three e-hailing cars were set ablaze after minibus operators clashed with e-hailing drivers in the same Maponya Mall. Videos of the incident shared on social media showed the operators hitting each other, vehicles burning, and gunshots ringing in the background.

See also: Uber and Bolt Soweto-Mall ban is due to failure to regulate South Africa’s e-hailing industry

Another episode would take place four days later at the Protea Glen Mall, where one e-hailing driver was injured and his car was set alight. The clashes forced the police to call for a meeting between the Soweto United E-hailing Association, the Soweto Taxi Association, and other stakeholders, where a 4-month ban was placed on e-hailers. All seemed quiet afterwards until this latest instalment.

Reacting to the killings, the NEFSA noted that affected communities have continuously raised alarms over the escalating hostility and lack of decisive, coordinated intervention, but all of it fell on deaf ears.

“Maponya Mall, as a major transport hub and commercial centre, must bear full responsibility for failing to put in place adequate mitigating transport policies, management oversight, and security measures, despite repeated patterns of violence and loss of life on their premises,” the association said.

Unions express outrage over e-hailing driver’s killing

The NEFSA, while condemning the incident, bashed the e-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt for continuing to exploit South African labour under unsafe and exploitative business models. Then it called out the incompetence of the South African government in regulating this space with urgency, a situation which has created a vacuum in which lawlessness thrives.

The federation then called for the immediate intervention of the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Public Works and Transport, the National Regulatory Entity, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), the National Taxi Association (NTA), the SAPS, all Law Enforcement Agencies and the Maponya Mall Management.

“We demand an urgent multi-stakeholder meeting involving the above parties, the community of  Soweto, and the e-hailing sector at large to develop a constructive, time-bound action plan to end the cycle of minibus taxi and e-hailing violence, root out all non-compliant and criminal elements within the public transport sector, commission and deploy a Public Transport Safety Response Unit under SAPS — tasked with monitoring, rapid intervention, and targeted investigations in high-conflict transport zones,” NEFSA said.

Similarly, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) expressed its outrage and condemned in the strongest terms the brutal killing of the e-hailing driver. In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, and seen by Technext, the federation stated that the senseless act of violence and utter disregard for human life expose the dangers facing workers in the transport sector and the urgent need for government intervention.

“The violence against e-hailing drivers is not an isolated incident — it is part of a systematic pattern of intimidation and harassment by certain taxi operators to maintain control over passenger transport routes. At the heart of the conflict is fierce competition for passengers in a shrinking economy, with rising unemployment leaving fewer commuters for both taxis and e-hailing services,” the SAFTU said.

While sympathising with the family of the deceased, the SAFTU called for urgent mediation to address the root causes of the clashes. It also urged the clashing drivers to quit the fighting and unite to fight exploitation.