E-HAILING drivers are threatening to shut down Maponya Mall in Soweto.
This comes after taxi drivers waged war against Uber/Bolt drivers.
It is alleged that they're fighting for routes.
Vehicles belonging to Uber and Bolt operators were set on fire at Maponya Mall on Thursday night, 1 June, at about 6.30pm.
The images and videos emerged on social media of cars in flames on Thursday with gunshots heard.
It's alleged that three e-hauling cars were burnt down, and people were injured.
E-hailing Partners Council chairman, Hendry Mathebula, said the incident was saddening.
“We are trying to gather as much information as possible to understand what caused this because there was a working relationship between us and taxis. This was arranged through the centre manager, and there was a designated area where Uber drivers could do their pickups which were not in conflict with the minibus taxis.
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“We are not sure of what happened and why it happened so suddenly, and why there’s is a change in the attitude,” said Hendry.
He told Daily Sun they could only comment on the issue of the safety of their drivers once they understood the core of the problem.
Hendry confirmed that one person working at the mall was shot and was mistaken to be an Uber driver because he was driving a Toyota Etios, one of the cars that e-hailing people use.
He said that some Uber drivers had to run for their lives.
Santaco spokesman Bafana Magagula told Daily Sun that they condemn the type of violence portrayed by taxi drivers.
“We don’t know why the Uber drivers were attacked,” he said.
Bafana said a team had been sent to investigate the incident, adding that this is a crime-related matter and the cops must take action.
Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said that the police were investigating a case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property following an alleged fight between minibus taxi operators and e-hailing drivers.
“Three vehicles were torched. Owners were assaulted, and one of them was shot,” she said.
Nevhuhulwi said three victims were taken to a local hospital, while four more vehicles were damaged.
She said no one was arrested.
