e-Hailing driver killed in suspected taxi violence outside Maponya Mall: 'It's barbaric' - Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, Gauteng Transport MEC

702's Bongani Bingwa chats to the MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:

An e-hailing driver was shot dead and his vehicle set alight outside Maponya Mall in Soweto on Wednesday night, in what police suspect is part of an ongoing turf war between e-hailing operators and minibus taxi associations.

Two others, including a passerby, were injured in the attack, which also saw another car torched nearby.

Diale-Tlabela condemns the killing as 'barbaric' and confirmed that police are actively investigating. 

"It's really sad, it's a difficult one... We are hopeful that the associations themselves will be able to give us answers. It's one life too many... we continue to lose a lot of lives to taxi conflict." 

- Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport

ALSO READ: ‘A cloud of violence hangs over the taxi industry’ - National Taxi Alliance 

She acknowledges growing frustration around the conflict, saying that while the Department continues to meet with public transport associations, the perpetrators appear to operate outside of formal structures.

"It looks like in meetings, as a government, we engage with a different set of people. Those who continue with the conflict, continue killing... it seems like they are not the ones we are sitting with."

- Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport

Diale-Tlabela denies allegations of government inaction or fear, insisting that measures are being taken to resolve long-standing licensing and regulatory backlogs dating back to 2009. 

"As Gauteng people, we don't owe the taxi industry anything. The taxi industry must understand that we are in a democratic country where people have the right to choose. We're really not scared of them."

- Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport

However, she admits that criminal elements are now exploiting the rivalry, with communities left fearful and questioning the government's ability to protect legal transport operators.

"This is pure criminality."

- Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport

ALSO READ: Taxi Peace Summit aims to 'clean the image of the taxi industry'

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.