The Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for four armed men who carried out a brazen attack on e-hailing outside Maponya Mall on Wednesday night, killing one person and injuring two others.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the details in a late-night briefing:
“One person has been declared dead and two injured after e-hailing vehicles were attacked by unknown suspects at Maponya Mall this evening. According to information at hand, an e-hailing vehicle was seen stopping at the entrance. That’s when 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. His vehicle was also torched. It was later discovered that the driver and another passer-by sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital.”
Nevhuhulwi said police have opened cases of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and arson. The SAPS and Johannesburg Metro Police Department are monitoring the area, and the attack is suspected to be taxi violence-related.
Community anger boils over
The attack has triggered outrage among residents of Pimville and Klipspruit, who say they are tired of living in fear.
“We have been ignoring the behaviour of taxi drivers, associations, and chairpersons for far too long. They want to control everyone, and on top of that, they don’t pay taxes. Maponya Mall management must urgently remove them,” one local resident shared on X (formerly Twitter).
Another wrote:
“The violence & killings of Uber drivers by some taxi drivers is pure evil, & it has no place in a civilised society.”
Some users suggested Maponya Mall follow the lead of Cape Town shopping centres, which restrict taxi operations on their premises, arguing malls are private property and should prioritise commuter safety.
Violence mirrors past deadly clashes
The attack is chillingly similar to past incidents in Soweto and other provinces, where tensions between e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt and local taxi operators have erupted into deadly confrontations.
In 2023, Cape Town, a devastating taxi strike crippled the economy and left commuters stranded for days. The last violent incident at Maponya Mall was in June 2023, when taxi drivers reportedly attacked and set fire to cars belonging to Bolt and Uber drivers outside the mall.
In recent media reports, it has emerged that Uber and Bolt drivers are being harassed and pressured to convert to the Shesha app, with some alleging they are barred from dropping passengers at certain malls. In cases e-hailing drivers are found transporting passengers, it is reported that they are illegally “arrested” and slapped with fines ranging between R1 500 and R15 000. The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) condemned these actions, stating:
“This conduct must be condemned as it prevents the drivers of Bolt and Uber from enjoying their constitutional rights (enshrined in section 22) to freely trade whilst endangering their lives.”
Thursday evening’s assault now threatens to reignite the cycle of deadly taxi violence targeting e-hailing drivers.
E-hailing industry under threat
The latest killings highlight the dangerous rivalry between taxi associations and e-hailing services, which have long battled over routes, fares, and passenger loyalty.
Industry analysts warn that without decisive action from government and law enforcement, incidents like this will continue to undermine both safety and economic opportunity in townships — where e-hailing services play a growing role in boosting the local economy.
ALSO READ: Taxicom Mobile well on its way to boosting township economy
Police appeal for information
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the Maponya Mall attack to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or report anonymously via the MySAPS app.
As Soweto reels from another senseless taxi violence tragedy, community leaders are calling for urgent stakeholder talks between taxi associations, e-hailing platforms, and government before the violence spirals further.
