Maponya Mall E-Hailing Attack | Soweto Drivers and Residents Demand Urgent Action

Soweto, Johannesburg — Anger and frustration erupted outside Maponya Mall after a deadly attack on e-hailing drivers, with protesters threatening to shut down the mall for seven days if urgent action is not taken. Community members accused both the taxi associations and government authorities of failing to protect them from ongoing violence.

“An e-hailing driver is a human being. We respect the taxi industry, but we also need to be respected,” one speaker told the crowd.

READ: Deadly Attack on E-Hailing Vehicles Leaves One Dead, Two Injured at Mapoonya Mall |

Daily Struggles of E-Hailing Drivers

Protesters highlighted the daily dangers faced by e-hailing drivers in Soweto and beyond:

• Violence from taxi operators seeking to dominate commuter routes.
• Mistreatment by some clients, including refusal to pay or abusive behaviour.
• Lack of protection from the e-hailing companies they work for.

“We are the most targeted industry in South Africa,” one driver said. “We are attacked, hijacked, and sometimes even fight among ourselves. Government must regulate this industry properly.”

Speakers called for formal regulation, registration, and protection for all e-hailing drivers, both local and foreign, arguing that without proper laws in place, the taxi industry will never respect them.

Escalating Tensions and Threats of Retaliation

Some protesters issued strong warnings that violence would no longer be tolerated.

“If they can shoot, we can also shoot. Enough is enough,” one driver declared, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The rhetoric reflected the boiling frustrations among e-hailing operators, who feel abandoned by both government and law enforcement despite repeated attacks on their vehicles and colleagues.

Female Drivers Speak Out

Women in the industry also voiced their unique struggles, stressing that e-hailing work is often a lifeline for single mothers.

“I’m a single mom supporting three kids. I’m not committing a crime; I’m working hard to feed my family,” one woman said tearfully. “Why should I be killed for trying to make a living?”

READ: Soweto Community Protests at Maponya Mall After Deadly E-Hailing Attack |

Wider Support Across Gauteng

The protest attracted support from drivers in Pretoria, where similar clashes between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers have been reported.

Residents added their voices, criticizing the exclusion of victims’ families and the community from high-level meetings between government officials, taxi associations, and mall management.

Inside Maponya Mall, Gauteng MEC for Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela remained in closed-door talks with stakeholders for several hours. Protesters insisted she address them directly before speaking to the media.

A Long-Running Turf War

The violence at Maponya Mall is part of a broader conflict between the e-hailing and taxi industries across Gauteng. Over the years:

• Several cars have been torched.
• Multiple drivers have been attacked or killed.
• Malls such as Southgate and Jabulani have also seen similar incidents.

As the sun set on Soweto, protesters remained defiant, chanting struggle songs and vowing to continue their action until concrete measures are implemented.

“We are not stopping until our demands are met,” one driver said. “We are just trying to work and feed our families. We are not the enemy.”

The MEC is expected to deliver a formal briefing on the outcome of the meeting, with many South Africans watching closely to see if this marks a turning point or just another chapter in a deadly turf war for control of the country’s commuter market.