Tragic Loss: Young Uber Driver Killed in Soweto After Just Three Days on Job
A 27-year-old Uber driver was brutally killed outside Maponya Mall in Soweto just three days into his new job, sparking community outrage and protests over e-hailing driver safety.
Community members protest outside Maponya Mall following the tragic killing of young e-hailing driver
Fatal Attack at Maponya Mall Highlights Transport Sector Crisis
JOHANNESBURG - In a devastating incident that underscores the ongoing violence against e-hailing drivers in Soweto, 27-year-old Mthokozisi Mvelase was shot and burned in his vehicle outside Maponya Mall on Wednesday night, merely three days after starting his job as an Uber driver.
The victim's aunt, Zanele Khuzwayo, revealed that Mvelase had recently relocated from KwaZulu-Natal to pursue economic opportunities in Johannesburg, highlighting the desperate search for employment that drives many young South Africans to seek work in the precarious transport sector.
Community Response and Protest Action
More than 100 residents have blocked roads around Maponya Mall, demonstrating their solidarity and demanding justice. The incident, which also saw a second vehicle shot at and another person injured, has sparked intense community outrage over the persistent economic challenges and safety concerns facing Black workers in the transport industry.
Official Response and Investigation
Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has engaged with industry officials inside the mall while protesters outside continue their demonstration, singing struggle songs. The police are investigating what appears to be linked to broader systemic issues in Johannesburg's transport sector.
This tragic incident has reignited debates about the safety of e-hailing drivers and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the transport industry to protect vulnerable workers.
Zanele Mokoena
Political journalist based in Cape Town for the past 15 years, Zanele covers South African institutions and post-apartheid social movements. Specialist in power-civil society relations.