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Soweto family mourns e-hailing driver Siyanda Mvelase after brutal killing

Published

2 weeks ago

August 18, 2025

Chiraag

Soweto e-hailing driver Siyanda Mvelase killed, grieving family, Bolt South Africa statement, EPCO condemns violence, Johannesburg township attacks, Joburg ETC

The family of Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase is struggling to come to terms with the cruelty of his death. The e-hailing driver was attacked near Maponya Mall in Soweto, and his life ended in one of the most brutal ways imaginable.

His aunt, Ntombenhle Khuzwayo, spoke through tears about the moment she learned the news. She said she was woken in the middle of the night with the devastating call. “It was very painful. What could my sister’s child have done to deserve being shot and burned? It is such cruelty. We are very hurt as a family.” The loss is made harder by the fact that Mvelase had only been driving his new car for four days before the attack.

Growing violence against drivers

The E-hailing Partners Council (EPCO) called Mvelase’s death a “deliberate and barbaric” act. The council said the killing reflects a disturbing trend of attacks on e-hailing drivers in Soweto, Johannesburg, and Tembisa.

EPCO noted ongoing disputes around operating licences and pricing structures, but stressed that no grievance can justify murder. “These intentional killings cannot be normalised,” the council said, adding that drivers’ safety has now become a national concern.

Bolt condemns the attack

Bolt South Africa confirmed that some of the drivers who came under attack also operate on its platform. Lerato Mostoeneng, the company’s senior general manager, said, “It is appalling that anyone should lose their life for trying to earn an honest living.”

The company has since reached out to drivers in high-risk zones, offering guidance and direct support. Bolt is also working with law enforcement to strengthen protection around hotspots like malls and transport hubs.

A tragedy with wider impact

News of Mvelase’s killing has sparked outrage and grief across social media. Many South Africans voiced anger that a young man trying to make a living could be targeted with such cruelty.

The tragedy has reignited debates around the safety of e-hailing operators and the urgent need for government intervention alongside company-led safety measures. In townships like Soweto, tensions between traditional taxi associations and e-hailing drivers have often spilled over into violence.

For Mvelase’s family, no explanation can ease their pain. As Khuzwayo put it simply, “It is such cruelty.”