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

Soweto, Johannesburg — Tensions erupted at Maponya Mall following a deadly attack on e-hailing drivers allegedly carried out by taxi operators. The violent incident left one driver dead, several injured, and two vehicles torched, sparking community outrage and protests demanding urgent intervention from authorities and mall management.

Chaos and Community Response

Residents gathered outside the mall, with burnt debris and the smell of charred rubber still evident at the scene. One vehicle was set alight with its driver inside, highlighting the severity of the attack. Police, Johannesburg Metro Police, and private security maintained a strong presence, while some entrances to the mall were temporarily closed.

Community leaders clarified that their protest is about safety, not business disruption:

“Our obsession is to make sure people’s lives are safe. We cannot allow the mall to operate as if nothing happened,” said one local representative.

Calls for Accountability

Residents accused mall management of focusing on security presence rather than engaging with the community, and demanded action from the Department of Transport to mediate ongoing tensions between taxi associations and e-hailing services.

Locals emphasized the broader issue of transport choice and safety:

“People pay for convenience, but we are being denied that choice,” one protester said.

Criticism was also directed at the mall’s contracted security company, with claims it acted reactively rather than preventing the attack. Concerns were raised about trauma experienced by witnesses, including minors.

Police Investigation

Authorities have opened cases of murder, attempted murder, and arson. Investigations are ongoing, and suspects remain at large. Community leaders warned that if swift action is not taken, tensions could escalate further, potentially putting more lives at risk.