Family Mourns as Community Threatens To Shut Maponya Mall Down After E-Hailing Driver Was Killed

• A family member of the e-hailing server who was killed was devastated and mourned uncontrollably
• This was after an e-hailing driver was killed and two were injured during an attack, which many believe was initiated by the taxi industry
• Members of the Pimville and Klipspruit communities in Soweto vowed to close Maponya Mall and prevent taxis from operating

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

SOWETO, JOHANNESBURG — The family member of the e-hailing driver who was killed on 13 August 2025 broke down in tears after the incident, which left two injured, sparking protest action from the community.

The relative of the victim who died wept uncontrollably as members of the community comforted her. One of the community members was also heartbroken and said that as a mother, she is tired of the war between the e-bailing drivers and txi drivers. She also accused the tsxi drivers of terrorizing them.

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"The taxi drivers are terrorizing us in Pimville. We can't do anything. This is the time where we must fight for our rights," she said.

She said that the community relies on e-hailing drivers to transport their family members who work in the mall until late at night. Community members were angry at the incident and said the taxi drivers would not operate in Pimville.

Tension brews between community and taxi drivers

Residents of Pimville, Soweto, vowed to close Maponya Mall after an e-hailing driver was killed on 13 August 2025 in Soweto in what some believe is an attack initiated by the war between the taxi industry and the e-hailing industry.

Residents blocked the Chris Hani Road with stones and burning tires, preventing motorists from entering or leaving the mall. This was after several people were injured, and one e-hailing driver was killed in the incident. Two vehicles were burned.

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What did the e-hailing sector say?

National E-hailing Association spokesperson Vhatuka Mbelengwane said that the government must intervene in the violence between the taxi industry and the e-hailing industry.

An e-hailing driver and his passengers were brutally murdered in Mitchell's Plein in Cape Town, Western Cape, on 17 June 2025 in an alleged gang-related incident. Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the occupants of the vehicle, killing the driver and his two passengers.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens on Facebook discussed the incident and the war between e-hailing drivers and taxi drivers.

Malebtop Libra said:

"The owner of Maponya mall has taxis herself, so it's obvious she sides with taxis."

Rams Sbk said:

"But imagine after buying groceries of R3500 and I have to use a taxi that will drop me off at the road whereas I can use Bolt."

Squatter Rama said:

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"The worst part is that those taxis do not go to all destinations. Imsgine taking a tsxi yo Dube around Emhlangeni."

Leo Leo said:

"Only Mkhwanzi's crew can solve this thing."

Candice Candy said:

"The taxi industry must learn to move with the times."

Johannesburg woman shares alleged robbery incident

In a related article, Briefly News reported that a Johannesburg woman was allegedly a victim of crime while in an e-hailing driver.

The woman posted a TikTok video and said that she was in an e-hailing car when the Bolt driver allegedly stole her possessions and almost kidnapped her.

Source: Briefly News