JOHANNESBURG – A taxi torched metres away from Maponya Mall on Thursday morning in a violent escalation of tensions that have rocked Soweto this week. The latest incident occurred as angry residents and suspected taxi industry affiliates protested in the area, further inflaming an already volatile situation following the murder of an e-hailing driver on Wednesday night.
According to onlookers, a mob chased down a taxi torched as it slowly approached a barricaded section of road near the shopping centre. Eyewitnesses—too afraid to speak on record—say the vehicle was halted, the driver forcefully removed, and the vehicle set ablaze after a scuffle and alleged robbery.
The taxi torched just metres away from Maponya Mall, a well-known landmark in Soweto that has now become a flashpoint for growing community frustration and inter-industry hostility.
Taxi torched Metres Away: Tensions Boil Over in Soweto
This act of violence comes less than 12 hours after two e-hailing vehicles were also set alight in the same area, with one driver tragically losing his life and two others sustaining injuries. The sequence of violent events has sparked panic among transport workers and residents alike.
The police have confirmed they are investigating both incidents as part of a broader probe into taxi-industry-related violence. Forensic units were dispatched to the scene early Thursday and cordoned off the area where the taxi torched metres away from the mall.
A visibly shaken resident, who asked not to be named, described the scene: “They were angry. They pulled the man from the taxi, then someone shouted that there was money inside. They took it before pouring something—maybe petrol—and lit the car. It burned fast.”
Protesters gathered near the scene have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Gauteng Department of Transport, accusing it of failing to engage with the community or take decisive action to address the growing violence between e-hailing drivers and the traditional taxi industry.
“They’re letting us down,” said one protester, her voice raised in frustration. “This is the most useless department. People are dying, cars are burning, and they do nothing. The MEC is missing—where is he when people are being killed?”
Demonstrators have blocked roads leading to and around Maponya Mall with burning tyres, rocks, and debris. Many claim their actions are intended to draw attention to the lack of safety and regulation in the local transportation sector.
Soweto has become a tense battleground over the past few weeks, with increasing reports of violence linked to competition between e-hailing operators and minibus taxi torched associations. The murder of an e-hailing driver Wednesday night appears to have acted as a catalyst for this week’s escalation.
Though police have not confirmed the motive behind the killing, many in the community believe it’s directly tied to the ongoing turf wars that have plagued South Africa’s transport sector for years. Taxi operators have long complained about e-hailing services “stealing” customers, while e-hailing drivers argue they face daily threats and violence without sufficient police protection.
The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has not yet issued an official statement, but sources within the organization claim the violence is not officially sanctioned and does not reflect the industry’s broader values.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said that investigations are ongoing and that law enforcement is monitoring hot spots across Soweto.
“Public Order Policing units have been deployed in the area to ensure stability,” said Masondo. “We urge community members to come forward with information. Violence and destruction of property will not be tolerated.”
No arrests have yet been made in connection with either the murder of the e-hailing driver or the taxi that was torched metres away from Maponya Mall.
Community leaders and civil society groups have called for calm, urging both the taxi industry and e-hailing companies to engage in meaningful dialogue and for the government to step in before the violence escalates further.
CHARLES MATSEKE, a Soweto-based transport analyst, warned: “This isn’t just about transport anymore. It’s about failed governance, lack of regulation, and people who feel unprotected. Until that’s addressed, we’ll continue to see cars burn and lives lost.”
Taxi torched- investigations continue and tensions mount, Thursday’s incident—where a taxi torched metres away from a key urban centre—marks a dangerous tipping point for Soweto. What began as industry rivalry is now threatening to spiral into community-wide unrest unless urgent, transparent intervention is made by authorities.
With emotions running high and trust in institutions at an all-time low, the call for real engagement—not just political statements—has never been louder.
Source- EWN
