‘We Are Not All Criminals’: Taxi Council Condemns Killing of E-Hailing Driver in Soweto

The brutal killing of a young e-hailing driver in Soweto has once again placed South Africa’s troubled taxi industry under scrutiny. The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) Gauteng has moved quickly to distance itself from the violence, with its chairperson, Midday Mali, declaring: “We are not all criminals, we are not all violent.”

Mali was addressing journalists in Johannesburg on Tuesday, following the death of 27-year-old Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase, who was shot and burned to death near Maponya Mall last week. The killing is widely believed to be linked to ongoing tensions between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers.

A Sector Under a Dark Cloud

The murder has sent shockwaves through Soweto and beyond. Police have opened cases of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and arson, though no arrests have yet been announced.

Mvelase, who had reportedly only started driving for an e-hailing platform two days earlier, was not officially registered on Uber’s system, according to the company. His death has nonetheless reignited fears about violent turf wars in the transport sector.

Mali expressed Santaco’s condolences to the Mvelase family and condemned the crime in the strongest terms.

“We cannot and will not defend this. We cannot hide behind slogans, uniforms, and silence. There is no place in our province or our industry for anyone who uses Santaco or the taxi industry more broadly as a cover for criminality and terror,” he said.

Soweto’s Pain, South Africa’s Shame

In a striking statement, Mali pointed to the tragic symbolism of the incident’s location.

“We are aware this happened in Soweto – a place that gave birth to some of the greatest expressions of our people’s resilience and hope. Yet today, the name Maponya Mall is being spoken not for economic progress, but for a tragedy that has left an entire sector discredited and under a cloud.”

The remarks highlight a growing frustration within communities that the taxi industry long central to South Africa’s transport system is often associated with fear, intimidation, and violence.

Santaco’s Next Steps

Mali pledged that Santaco Gauteng would work with law enforcement to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. He also indicated that the organisation is looking inward, working with its internal structures to identify and root out criminal elements operating under the guise of the taxi industry.

“We share the pain and anger of Soweto residents and are committed to taking decisive action,” he said.

A Cycle That Must End

Taxi-related violence has been a recurring theme in South Africa’s urban centres, often sparked by disputes over routes and competition from e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt. While industry leaders have repeatedly promised reform, violent incidents continue to undermine public confidence in both traditional taxis and newer transport platforms.

For the Mvelase family, however, the focus is on justice. And for residents of Soweto, the hope is that this tragedy will mark a turning point in holding the industry accountable.

{Source: IOL}

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