Johannesburg – Shocked shoppers witnessed brazen gun violence at Maponya Mall in Soweto, in which one person was shot dead and two cars set alight.
“It is not for the first time this thing is happening here… Two people were shot and rushed to the hospital, and the other one is dead there… right there,” said a shopper who pointed at a burning car.
Gunmen were seen approaching a car, suspected to be an e-hailing ride, and opened fire in full view of shoppers.
It was unclear if the second torched car was also an Uber or Bolt service.
Police said the shooting occurred at night on Wednesday, 13 August 2025.
Commenting on the matter, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has strongly condemned the violent incident.
“According to preliminary reports, the incident is allegedly linked to tensions between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers,” the MEC said in a statement.
MEC Diale-Tlabela described the attack as “senseless, unacceptable, and a direct threat to the safety and stability of our public transport system.”
The MEC added: “No grievance or commercial dispute justifies the taking of a life or putting innocent people at risk.
“Violence of this nature undermines public safety, tarnishes the image of our transport sector, and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.”
MEC Diale-Tlabela called on law enforcement agencies to prioritise the investigation and ensure that those responsible were brought to book.
She further urged both taxi associations and e-hailing operators to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue facilitated by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport .
“The MEC sends her deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and wishes those injured a speedy recovery,” the statement said.
