Operations have resumed at Maponya Mall in Soweto on Thursday, but the atmosphere remains tense following a violent attack the previous night that left one man dead and two people injured.
Deadly attack shakes Maponya Mall
Police say the incident appears to have been a planned assault targeting e-hailing drivers — drivers who transport passengers booked through apps like Uber or Bolt.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the attack began when an e-hailing vehicle stopped at the mall entrance. About four men approached and opened fire on the driver before setting the car on fire.
A second e-hailing car was also targeted, but its driver escaped on foot, although the vehicle was later burned.
Police confirmed that the driver of the first vehicle died at the scene. Another e-hailing driver and a bystander — someone who was not involved in the situation but happened to be nearby — were both shot and taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Emergency medical teams arrived quickly, but the scale of the violence has left the community shaken.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has opened cases of murder, attempted murder, and arson. Investigators are gathering evidence, including witness statements and any CCTV footage from the area.
Possible taxi industry conflict
Authorities believe the attack is linked to long-running tensions between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers. In some areas, competition for passengers and routes has led to violent clashes, as each side seeks to protect their share of the transport market.
Colonel Nevhuhulwi said police are considering the possibility that Wednesday night’s attack was an orchestrated effort to intimidate e-hailing drivers operating near the mall.
By Thursday morning, residents and e-hailing drivers had gathered near the mall, blocking taxis from operating in the area. Roads were barricaded with rocks, and some cars were turned away. Police vehicles moved back from the crowd as tensions rose.
Community members confronted officers, accusing them of not doing enough to protect e-hailing drivers. The standoff was still ongoing at the time of publishing, with law enforcement trying to keep the situation from escalating further.
Police and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department are urging witnesses to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of the attackers.
The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests had been made by Thursday morning.