Angry Soweto residents block roads near Maponya Mall after e-hailing driver killed
Police believe the attack is related to the long-running battles between the taxi industry and e-hailing drivers.
Soweto residents blocked roads with rocks near the Maponya Mall on 14 August 2025 after an e-hailing driver was killed at the mall on 13 August 2025. Picture: Jabulile Mbatha/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Residents in Soweto have blocked roads with rocks near Maponya Mall after an e-hailing driver was killed on Wednesday night.
Four people opened fire on the man and torched his vehicle.
Another e-hailing driver, who was injured in the attack, managed to flee.
An onlooker was wounded after being hit by a stray bullet.
ALSO READ:
• Soweto residents angered, frustrated in wake of deadly Maponya Mall attack
• Heavy police presence at Maponya Mall after e-hailing driver killed, vehicles torched
• Gauteng transport MEC condemns shooting of e-hailing drivers at Maponya Mall as 'barbaric act'
• E-hailing driver's murder at Maponya Mall believed to be linked to taxi violence - police
Police believe the attack is related to the long-running battles between the taxi industry and e-hailing drivers.
Community members are visibly angry, confronting the police for trying to maintain stability in the area.
Some police officers have moved their vehicles further from the mall.
Residents are turning back cars and picking up rocks to block the roads.
The situation remains tense.
There’s heavy police presence outside Maponya Mall where two e-hailing vehicles were shot at and torched last night.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 14, 2025
One of the drivers died in the torched car. Another driver was shot at but managed to flee, a passerby was also shot.
These are the remains of the vehicles.
JM pic.twitter.com/NzzWWITybU
Employees of the mall have been removed from inside and when the mall management tried to call them back they were confronted by the residents. pic.twitter.com/jyi5nSYu9F
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) August 14, 2025