Tensions Ease at Soweto’s Maponya Mall After E-Hailing Tragic Driver’s Killing

For many Sowetans, Maponya Mall is more than just a shopping hub — it’s a landmark that carries history, pride, and the hustle of daily life. But last week, its entrances were barricaded, stores shut their doors, and chaos loomed large after the killing of a 27-year-old e-hailing driver, Mthokozisi Mvelase.

A Tragedy That Sparked Outrage

Mvelase, who had recently joined the e-hailing industry, was shot dead at a pickup point near the mall. Two other drivers were wounded in the same attack, an incident that set off anger and fear in Soweto. In response, residents blockaded access to the mall, effectively bringing one of Johannesburg’s busiest townships to a standstill.

The community’s reaction reflected broader frustrations around public transport rivalries that have long brewed beneath the surface in South Africa — tensions between minibus taxi operators and e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt, which often turn violent.

The MEC Steps In

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, visited the mall to calm tensions and engage directly with those affected. Meeting with mall management, taxi associations, and members of Soweto’s e-hailing organisation, she assured residents that stability had been restored.

“We now have things under control,” Diale-Tlabela said, confirming that law enforcement had been deployed to keep the peace. She stressed that lawlessness would not be tolerated and called on residents to allow businesses to reopen.

A Community on Edge

The tragedy has once again highlighted the fragile relationship between South Africa’s traditional taxi industry and the growing e-hailing sector. For years, drivers on both sides have voiced concerns — taxi operators fear losing passengers, while e-hailing drivers often complain about safety risks, unfair treatment, and lack of protection.

On social media, Sowetans expressed both grief and anger. Some demanded tougher action against perpetrators of violence, while others called for long-term solutions to protect livelihoods in both industries. “We can’t keep losing young men like Mthokozisi,” one Soweto resident wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Why Maponya Mall Matters

Maponya Mall, named after businessman Richard Maponya, is more than a retail space. Opened in 2007, it has become a cultural icon of Soweto’s economic growth, symbolising opportunity and local pride. Any disruption there is felt deeply, not just as an inconvenience, but as an attack on the community’s heartbeat.

Looking Ahead

While the mall has reopened and calm has returned, the incident underscores a bigger challenge for Gauteng authorities: creating a safe, fair, and balanced public transport environment where both taxis and e-hailing services can coexist.

For now, Soweto residents are trying to move forward, but many are left wondering: how many more lives will be lost before peace is permanent?

Source:The South African 

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