E-Hailing Drivers Demand Accountability from Gauteng Transport Department After Fatal Maponya Mall Incident
In Johannesburg, e-hailing drivers are holding the Gauteng Transport Department responsible following a tragic event outside Maponya Mall in Soweto that claimed the life 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, as drivers assert that their persistent safety concerns are being ignored by the authorities.
– Advertisement –
“The taxi violence task team is here to address these issues. The incident at Maponya Mall could have been prevented if the department and the MEC had acted appropriately,” remarked Henry Mathebula, chairperson of the E-hailing Partners Council.
Call for Enhanced Safety, Regulations, and Fair Competition
The drivers staged a protest at the Department of Transport offices on Monday, submitting a detailed memorandum outlining their demands. Their key concerns include:
Advertisements
A lack of security for drivers and passengers alike
Claims of negligence on the part of the provincial MEC
A critical need for regulations to protect against harassment from competing operators
Mathebula stressed that enhanced oversight could “alleviate intimidation from other public transport operators” and avert further violent clashes in the future.
– Advertisement –
Advertisements
Gauteng MEC Promises to Address E-Hailing Drivers’ Concerns
Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has received the memorandum and assured drivers that their concerns will be prioritized.
“We are working on operationalizing TAG [Transport Authority of Gauteng] to ensure it is staffed adequately to address not only your current complaints but also the future of public transport in Gauteng,” stated Diale-Tlabela.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Parliament Committee on Police Corruption Delays Terms of Reference Adoption
In addition to safety, drivers are pushing for a fairer distribution of revenue from e-hailing platforms, arguing that the current setup places them at risk and opens them up to exploitation.
The department has pledged to promptly address these concerns as the sector continues to grapple with violence and unrest.
For More SA News, Follow SurgeZirc SA on Facebook, X and Instagram
– Advertisement –
