Latest news with #MthokozisiMvelase
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
From Uber's arrival to driver's death: A decade of government failure on taxis
South Africa's transport sector's war is killing the innocent – and the state is watching. On Wednesday night, Mthokozisi Mvelase was shot dead and his vehicle was set alight at Maponya Mall in Soweto. He had been in Johannesburg for two weeks and an Uber driver for just three days when his life was gruesomely ended. The next day, a minibus taxi was set alight in what was clearly the Soweto community's angry response to the killing of the Uber driver. This incident encapsulates South Africa's current social and economic state: youth unemployment, taxi industry lawlessness, mafia tactics in the transport sector, police inertia and the government's lack of urgency in addressing citizens' safety and transport concerns. In the background, President Cyril Ramaphosa's government and former president Thabo Mbeki's foundation were at odds over the National Dialogue that the president insisted was starting on Friday at the University of South Africa in Pretoria. The already fragile national convention did start with the government's side of the invitees turning up. However, the community of Soweto continued protesting in the streets, burning tyres and blockading Chris Hani Baragwanath Road all the way up to the N1. ALSO READ: 'Minister, please step in': Turf war between taxis and e-hailers as mall shuts down and taxi burns The battle between the South African National Taxi Council-affiliated minibus taxis and the e-hailing industry is as old as the e-hailing industry itself in South Africa. The arrival of Uber was met with violent opposition by the now almost-defunct metered-taxi industry. Gruesome deaths and injuries became common occurrences and when the generally feared minibus taxi bodies joined the metered taxi industry, it became a one-sided bullying parade in which the e-hailing drivers were sitting ducks. Throughout the many years of violence since Uber first entered the South African market in 2013, the government has acted as it always has: a disinterested middleman who looked away even when the bully killed their victim. It got so bad that it is alleged that taxi patrol vehicles would stop cars they suspected to be e-hailing cars and ask the driver – a man – to kiss a suspected passenger – a woman – to prove that the car was transporting family and not operating as an e-hailing service. Government intervention remained minimal and ineffective. While former president Jacob Zuma's government responded too slowly in enacting laws to govern the arrival of e-hailing in the transport sector, the ANC gave up on ensuring that the neglected minibus taxi industry was regularised after it came into power. ALSO READ: Santaco denies reports of enforcing limits on private vehicle use [VIDEOS] The industry had been allowed to grow into a huge uncontrolled monstrous law unto itself. The justification was that the government cannot control what they did not build. And because it would require real effort to bring the industry under government control, it was far too easy and convenient to simply look the other way. And that is why South Africa is where it is right now. But the community knows how to make the government stop looking away: burn things down and disrupt the rest of the economy that keeps on going while they suffer in a war which is not of their own creation. When burning tyres block roads, an ambulance fails to get to a dying patient on time, life-saving medication cannot be delivered to clinics, a teacher fails to get to school and workers cannot get to work. A company in Sandton is less productive because it is understaffed. But, worst of all, the poor get poorer. It is about time those who only want to talk South Africa's problems to death gave way to those who want to save Mvelase's life and livelihood. NOW READ: Forget Uber and Bolt, we may soon have a Gauteng e-hailing service
eNCA
2 days ago
- Automotive
- eNCA
Can SA's two transport giants share the road without blood spills
JOHANNESBURG - The murder of 27-year-old e-hailing driver Mthokozisi Mvelase in Soweto has once again highlighted the tension between South Africa's taxi industry and e-hailing services. Mvelase, who had just started in the new job, was shot outside Maponya Mall before his car was set alight, with him inside. This prompted protests, with many calling for taxi operations to be halted in Pimville. While his killing is being investigated, it has now raised a broader question: can e-hailing services and taxis co-exist in South Africa's transport system? Supplied Supplied Taxis's are the backbone of public transport For many South Africans, taxis remain the lifeline to work, schools, malls and government offices. From going to Home Affairs, to collecting SASSA grants and trips to the clinic. Theo Malele, spokesperson of the National Taxi Alliance cautions against stopping taxis from operating, saying ' it will create serious challenges for commuters.' Malele adds that while coexistence with e-hailing services is necessary, the industry faces problems of its own. 'E-hailing services are fragmented. There is a power struggle within the industry, and they need to sort themselves out,' he argues. Malele suggests that stronger regulation and law enforcement could create stability. "Currently they can travel anywhere and any how while taxi's are confined to a specific geographic network which is where they have to operate should they go beyond they would have transgressed. This needs to be addressed.' E-Hailing drivers daily struggle The e-hailing association has admitted to facing their own obstacles. Chairperson of the Western Cape e-hailing association Siyabonga Hlabisa, says taxi marshals restrict them from working in certain areas, while sometimes taxi drivers impound cars and charge fines of up to R1,000 for their release. He argues that taxi associations believe they rule the industry and this needs to be addressed. He says they do not view taxi operations as a treat nor should they be viewed as such as both operate in their own way. Overall these tensions are more than just a business dispute, they affect everyday commuters. Social media claims that the South African National Taxi Council has ordered motorists not to carry more than one passenger in private cars, but the council has denied this.
eNCA
3 days ago
- eNCA
Rate taxi driver behaviour out of 10
JOHANNESBURG - E-hailing drivers are demanding that taxi operators be removed from Maponya Mall following a fatal attack on a driver last week. Twenty-seven year old Mthokozisi Mvelase was shot dead inside his vehicle, before being set ablaze outside the mall. The attack is thought to be linked to the continuing struggle between taxi drivers and e-hailing operators. On the South African Morning Soapbox, we are asking you to rate taxi drivers' road behaviour out of 10.
