Soweto Residents Outraged After Hostel Taxi Gangs burn Bolt & Uber drivers alive at Maponya Mall

Soweto, August 14, 2025 Anger and fear gripped Soweto on Wednesday night after a brutal attack by a group of hostel taxi operators left e-hailing drivers dead and vehicles torched outside Maponya Mall. The violence has sent shockwaves through the community, exposing deep-rooted tensions between traditional taxi operators and e-hailing services.

The victim, 27-year-old Mthokozisi Mvelase, had been driving for Uber for only three days. Eyewitnesses say a group of armed men ambushed his vehicle, shooting him before setting the car on fire. A second vehicle, reportedly a Bolt driver, narrowly escaped a similar fate. A passerby sustained injuries during the attack, further escalating panic in the area.

Residents gathered in large numbers outside the mall to express their outrage. Protesters b…