E-hailing crisis: 13 drivers killed in two weeks

Gauteng – South Africa is still reeling from the killing of e-hailing driver Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase at Maponya Mall in Gauteng, after he was shot and burned inside his car, while others were injured and e-hailing vehicles were torched. The E-hailing Partners Council (EPCO) condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate and barbaric act.

“We are devastated by the unwarranted attacks against e-hailing drivers. We share our deepest condolences to the family, friends and e-hailing community. The intentional and barbaric killing, presumably with premeditation of e-hailing operator Mvelase, who was only 27 years of age, is condemned in the strongest of terms,” EPCO said. According to the organisation, the killing was not an isolated incident and followed a series of recent attacks on e-hailing operators, particularly in Soweto, Johannesburg and Tembisa. On August 12, SAPS Lieutenant Colonel MJ Moletsane initiated a meeting following a death toll of 12 people in e-hailing-related killings within a week. Most of the victims were e-hailing operators, and investigations suggested that the murders were allegedly executions.