Maponya Mall E-Hailing Attack: Drivers and Residents Demand Government Action

Maponya Mall E-Hailing Attack | Drivers and Residents Voice Anger, Demand Urgent Action

Protesters threatened to shut down Maponya Mall for seven days if their demands were not met. Many accused both the taxi associations and government of failing to protect them. “An e-hailing driver is a human being. We respect the taxi industry, but we also need to be respected,” one speaker told the crowd.

Drivers detailed the daily risks they face – from attacks by taxi operators to mistreatment by clients and a lack of protection from the very companies they work for. “We are the most targeted industry in South Africa,” said another protester. “We are attacked, hijacked, and sometimes even fight among ourselves. Government must regulate this industry properly.”

Speakers also called out what they described as the government’s negligence in allowing e-hailing companies to operate without proper regulation. “If we are not operating within the laws, the taxi industry will never respect us,” one driver argued, calling for formal registration, regulation, and protection for all drivers – local and foreign.

Some protesters’ frustrations spilled over into fiery rhetoric, with threats to retaliate if violence against e-hailing drivers continued. “If they can shoot, we can also shoot. Enough is enough,” one said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Female drivers also shared their struggles, highlighting how e-hailing work is often a lifeline for single mothers. “I’m a single mom supporting three kids. I’m not committing a crime; I’m working hard to feed my family,” one woman said tearfully. “Why should I be killed for trying to make a living?”

The protest drew support from drivers as far as Pretoria, where similar clashes between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers have been reported. Residents also voiced anger at the exclusion of victims’ families and the community from high-level meetings held behind closed doors.

Inside the mall, Gauteng MEC for Transport, taxi associations, e-hailing representatives, and mall management remained locked in talks for several hours. Protesters insisted the MEC address them directly before engaging with the media.

The conflict between e-hailing and taxi operators in the area is not new. Over the years, several cars have been torched, and multiple drivers attacked in Soweto and other parts of Gauteng, including Pretoria and Southgate Mall.

As the sun set, the crowd outside Maponya Mall remained defiant, chanting struggle songs and vowing to continue their action until concrete measures are implemented. “We are not stopping until our demands are met,” one driver declared. “We are just trying to work and feed our families. We are not the enemy.”

The MEC is expected to provide a formal briefing on the outcome of the meeting, with all eyes on whether this will mark a turning point – or another chapter in a long-running and deadly turf war over South Africa’s commuter market.