Transport operators at Maponya Mall agree to coexist after horror murder. Image: Business Tech.
(The Post News)– After Thursday’s protest, peace has finally been restored at Maponya Mall, Soweto. E-hailing drivers and minibus taxi operators have reached an agreement to coexist at the mall.
The closure of the mall on Thursday, 14 August, resulted in the agreement after two vehicles were set alight on Wednesday night. An assailant shot and burnt one e-hailing driver, identified as Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase, in his vehicle, causing his death.
According to Zanele Khuzwayo, aunt to the deceased, Siyanda (27) had just moved to Joburg from KZN. He bought a car two weeks ago and registered as an e-hailing driver on Monday, two days before he died in a horrific e-hailing attack. Meanwhile, last night, community members held a candlelight service outside the main entrance of the mall in memory of Mvelase.
Residents had vowed to close Maponya Mall for a period of seven days. However, Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela turned down the shutdown of the mall. “Let’s allow business to continue. Allow other members of the community to have access to the services they so much need.”
According to Diale-Tlabela, closing the mall for seven days would impact people’s salaries, especially the retail industry, as their income requires them to report for work every day. She said that some people struggled to access SASSA and had to leave the mall.
Reports indicate that Maponya Mall reopened after the transport operators reached an agreement to coexist. Both e-hailing cars and minibuses are now entering and exiting the mall. This came after a meeting held by MEC Diale-Tlabela with mall management, transport operators, and community members.
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