Two e-hailing vehicles attacked at Maponya Mall. Image: Daily Sun
(The Post News)- One person died and two others injured after two e-hailing vehicles allegedly set on fire by four taxi drivers at Maponya Mall in Soweto. The motive behind the incident is still unknown.
Preliminary investigation reports that chaos erupted at Maponya Mall. When one driver was inside his vehicle when four armed men approached. They started shooting then after they set his vehicle on fire, the man died on the scene. The driver of the second vehicle escaped but sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was then taken to the nearest hospital for medical attention.
According to Gauteng police Spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevuhulwi, “an ehailing vehicle stopped at the entrance of the mall. After that about four men approached the driver and shot at him before torching the vehicle. Another vehicle which was nearby was shot at and the driver managed to flee and his vehicle was also torched.”
Reports indicate that the incident occurred around 8pm.
Nevuhulwi said that, later during the investigation, police found that the driver and another passerby who had gun wounds. “The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) are on the scene. Trying to monitor the situation which can related to be taxi-violence,” she adds.
Gauteng MEC for Road and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has described the incident as “senseless, unacceptable, and a direct threat to the safety and stability of our public transport system. No grievance or commercial dispute justifies the taking of a life or putting innocent people at risk.”
Diale-Tlabela said such violence undermines public safety, tarnishes the image of the transport sector, and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
Police have opened a case of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and arson for further investigation.
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