E-Hailing Drivers Demand Accountability from Gauteng Transport Department After Fatal Maponya Mall Incident
E-hailing drivers in Johannesburg are directing their frustrations at the Gauteng Transport Department after a tragic event outside Maponya Mall in Soweto that resulted in the death of one driver.
Last week, 27-year-old driver Mthokozisi Mvelase was shot before his vehicle, along with another e-hailing car, was set ablaze. This incident has escalated tensions between e-hailing services and competing taxi associations, with drivers claiming that their persistent safety concerns are being ignored by officials.
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“They are here with the taxi violence task team, meant to address these issues. The situation at Maponya Mall could have been prevented had the department and the MEC taken appropriate action,” said Henry Mathebula, chairperson of the E-hailing Partners Council.
Demands for Safety, Regulation, and Fair Competition
Drivers protesting on Monday gathered at the Department of Transport offices to present a detailed memorandum of their demands. Their grievances include:
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Insufficient security measures for both drivers and passengers
Claims of negligence by the provincial MEC
A critical need for regulations to protect against harassment from rival operators
Mathebula stressed that implementing better oversight could “mitigate intimidation from other public transport providers” and help prevent future violent incidents.
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Gauteng MEC Pledges to Address E-Hailing Drivers’ Issues
Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela received the memorandum and assured drivers that their concerns would be prioritized.
“We are actively working on establishing TAG [Transport Authority of Gauteng] to ensure it has the necessary personnel to tackle not just your current issues, but also the future of public transport in Gauteng,” explained Diale-Tlabela.
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Beyond safety, drivers are pushing for a fairer revenue distribution with e-hailing platforms, citing that the current structure leaves them vulnerable and exploited.
The department has pledged to address these challenges swiftly as the sector continues to grapple with violence and unrest.
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