A minibus taxi was torched near Maponya Mall amid community protest against e-hailing vehicle violent. Image: Times Live.
(The Post News)– On Thursday, 14 August, a minibus taxi driver operating between Pimville Zone 2 and Zone 3 near Maponya Mall in Soweto was attacked. His taxi was then set alight.
This incident comes after two e-hailing vehicles were torched yesterday night, killing one and leaving two injured from gunshot wounds. E-hailing drivers and furious community members closed down Maponya Mall’s entrance, not allowing taxis to operate in the area.
Allegedly, the taxi driver continued working despite the road closure. The attackers told him to stop the vehicle and get out. They assaulted him, took all his possessions, including the money, and torched the taxi.
A source who asked to remain anonymous noted that “the attackers were furious that the driver was trying to work near the mall where the community was protesting against an attack that happened on Wednesday night.”
According to Gauteng police officers, the suspects are still unknown. Meanwhile, the Gauteng provincial government noted that it is developing plans to formalize the e-hailing industry, similar to how other public transport sectors in the province are organized.
Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela stated that the process is more complicated than with the taxi industry. The industry has long-standing and recognized leadership bodies like the SANTACO and the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA).
Diale-Tlabela noted that tensions are caused by disagreements about who claims to have been first in the e-hailing industry. He also explained that they have worked with people who claimed to be representatives of the industry. However, they have clarified to them that they cannot continue to acknowledge them in the absence of a legal framework.
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