E-hailing drivers operating vehicles for platforms such as Uber and Bolt in South Africa have encountered repeated violence, harassment, and extortion from members of the traditional minibus taxi industry, particularly in areas controlled by taxi associations and their patrollers. These incidents stem from competition over passenger routes, as e-hailing services enable direct pickups from homes or workplaces, bypassing fixed taxi ranks where minibus operators traditionally wait for fares.
On the evening of 13 August 2025, at Maponya Mall in Soweto, four men approached a 27-year-old e-hailing driver, Mthokozisi Mvelase, as his vehicle stopped at the mall entrance. The men shot him before setting the vehicle on fire. A second e-hailing vehicle nearby was also fired upon; its driver escaped, but the car was torched. A third e-hailing vehicle outside the mall suffered the same fate. Mvelase was killed, while two other individuals—one driver and one passerby—sustained gunshot wounds and required hospital treatment. Police opened cases of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and arson. The following day, hundreds of community members protested outside the mall, shutting it down and blocking nearby roads including Chris Hani Road near the N1. A minibus taxi was later found torched in the vicinity of the protests. Heavy police and Johannesburg Metro Police presence was deployed to monitor the area.
This Soweto killing formed part of a wider surge in violence. As of 17 August 2025, 13 e-hailing drivers had been killed in a two-week period, with 12 of those deaths occurring through execution-style methods. South African Police Service officials held meetings to address the spike. Similar patterns of armed attacks, including shootings and arson, have targeted e-hailing vehicles in other locations.
In KwaZulu-Natal, tensions flared in KwaDabeka township near Pinetown during the same period in August 2025. Two e-hailing drivers were shot in confrontations with taxi operators. Provincial police arrested between 10 and 15 suspects, including taxi drivers and owners. KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma commended the operation led by Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and provincial regulatory entities for restoring stability and preventing further escalation similar to the Soweto events. The provincial government stated its commitment to peaceful co-existence between the two transport sectors.
Further incidents continued into 2026. In February 2026, a Bolt driver in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, dropped off a passenger at Phoenix Plaza and was then assaulted by three individuals linked to a local taxi association. The attackers confiscated his vehicle and held it at the association’s offices, demanding R5 000 for its return. Phoenix police investigated cases of extortion and common assault, intervened to secure the vehicle’s release, and continued their probe with no arrests reported at the time.
Data from 2020 to 2024 shows a considerable rise in crimes against e-hailing drivers, including armed assaults, robberies, car hijackings, malicious damage to property, and murders. Key risks involve route deviations forced by patrollers and direct confrontations in taxi-controlled zones. Drivers have reported being chased away while collecting or dropping passengers, with taxi operators and patrollers enforcing territorial control through intimidation, illegal roadblocks, and demands for proof of legitimacy or payment.
The conflict traces back more than a decade to the introduction of e-hailing services around 2013. Taxi associations have accused unregulated e-hailing operations of eroding their customer base and operating without proper permits, leading to congestion and lost revenue at ranks. In response, some taxi groups have imposed illegal checkpoints, seized vehicles, and extracted release fees. E-hailing drivers, who cover their own vehicle purchase, fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs while paying platform commissions, have faced ongoing harassment in provinces including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
Authorities have taken steps to address the regulatory gaps. The National Land Transport Amendment Act was signed into law, with regulations gazetted in September 2025. These measures introduce formal operating permits for e-hailing services, expand ministerial powers for safety protocols, and aim to integrate the sector while reducing clashes. The South African National Taxi Council has called for strict enforcement of these rules to eliminate illegal operations and curb violence. Taxi associations have at times distanced themselves from attacks, attributing them to criminal elements within the industry, while e-hailing representative bodies have condemned the killings and demanded enhanced protection.
Police operations have resulted in arrests in multiple cases, yet drivers continue to report fear while working, particularly at night or in high-risk zones. Protests following fatal incidents have disrupted malls and roads, and communities have called for better mall security and intervention to halt the cycle of retaliation. The pattern of attacks by taxi drivers and patrollers persists across urban townships, highlighting the challenges in balancing established route-based transport with app-based services. Ongoing investigations and regulatory implementation continue as authorities seek to enforce safety standards for all drivers and passengers.
Double Murder in Chochocho: Mpumalanga Police Search for Suspects After Couple Shot Dead
Hazyview – Police in Mpumalanga are investigating the shooting deaths of Masotja Ngomane (45) and his wife Mpumi Shongwe (35) in the Chochocho area near Hazyview.
The couple were attacked in their home in the middle of the night. Both were shot in the chest.
The victims’ cellphones were taken by the perpetrators.
The couple’s bodies were removed from the residence, which is situated just behind Lungisani Secondary School, by a forensic pathology services van.
The family has confirmed the details of the shooting. Police are still looking for the suspects and the motive for the incident remains unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
55-Year-Old Suspect Arrested in KwaZulu-Natal for Unlawful Possession of Unlicensed Assault Rifle and Pistol
Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal – On Friday, 13 March 2026, members of the South African Police Service arrested a 55-year-old man in the Bhekuzulu township following an intelligence-driven operation.
Police acted on specific information that the individual was in possession of two unlicensed firearms. During the operation, officers recovered an assault rifle together with 29 rounds of ammunition and a 9mm pistol together with 15 rounds of ammunition.
The suspect failed to produce any valid documentation authorising possession of the firearms or ammunition. He was immediately arrested and charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
In addition to the firearms and ammunition, police seized the suspect’s vehicle for further investigation. The vehicle was found to be fitted with an expired licence disc dating back to 2020 and was being driven without number plates on both the front and rear.
The arrested man is due to appear in the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 16 March 2026, where he will face the charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
All recovered items have been taken into police custody as evidence in the ongoing case.
Home Affairs Staff Worried About Job Security and Being Retrenched Due to Digitisation and Outsourcing of Services
15 March 2026
Some staff members at the Department of Home Affairs have expressed concern about the department’s services being digitised and outsourced to banks and private institutions.
The concerns centre directly on the planned shift to digitised processes for Home Affairs services and the transfer of operational responsibilities to external banks and private institutions.
This development was reported on 15 March 2026, highlighting unease among certain Home Affairs employees regarding the direction of service delivery changes.
The reported concerns remain focused exclusively on the digitisation of Home Affairs services and their outsourcing to banks and private institutions, with no additional details released at this stage.
- Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Issues Warning to Taxi Operators During Address on Taxi Conflict
- E-Hailing Drivers in South Africa Face Persistent Attacks and Intimidation from Taxi Operators and Patrollers
- One Killed, Two Seriously Injured in Head-On Collision on N3 Near Cato Ridge
- Two Teenagers Arrested After Security Guard Killed at School Gate
- Double Murder in Chochocho: Mpumalanga Police Search for Suspects After Couple Shot Dead
Black Mamba Mistaken for Bicycle Tyre Discovered in Trenance Park Shed
Trenance Park, KwaZulu-Natal – A 3.2-metre black mamba was safely captured on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at a residence on Ebony Link Road after it was initially mistaken for a bicycle tyre.
The homeowner and his daughter were cleaning out a shed on the property when the girl picked up what she believed to be a discarded tyre lying among other items. The object suddenly moved and slithered deeper into the shed, revealing it to be a live snake.
The family immediately contacted Reaction Unit South Africa for assistance. Reaction Officer Bryson Bisnath responded to the scene, located the black mamba inside the shed, and captured it without incident. The snake was then removed from the premises.
Officers noted that the highly venomous reptile was in the process of shedding its skin at the time of capture. No injuries were reported to any individuals involved.
