- E-hailing taxi drivers got here beneath assault at Maponya Mall in Soweto on Thursday.
- Two drivers spoke to News24 after they acquired medical therapy for accidents sustained throughout the assault.
- A person discovered himself in the midst of the chaos despite the fact that he isn’t an e-hailing taxi driver.
“I virtually died for my bread, and all I would like is to earn a dwelling as a result of this nation has no jobs. That is how I assist myself. I’ve to eat.”
These had been the phrases of a panicked e-hailing driver after he was attacked at Maponya Mall in Soweto on Thursday.
He was one in all a number of motorists, together with a person who just isn’t a part of the e-hailing taxi business, whose automobiles had been vandalised and set alight.
The driving force advised News24 that he had arrived on the mall at 18:20 when he witnessed unknown males harassing a driver.
A few of them turned to him and requested him who he was there to gather. Immediately they beat him and, utilizing wood sticks, smashed his automotive’s windscreen and window.
He mentioned the assault was preceded by threats in the direction of e-hailing drivers.
He added:
They had been out to kill. I might have died if I had been cussed and insisted on combating again. I wished to battle. I am a person, too, somebody’s little one, but when I fought, I would not be right here.
He was taken to the Lilian Ngoyi Group Clinic for therapy and by the point News24 arrived on the scene, he had recent stitches behind his head.
To make issues worse, he cancelled his automotive insurance coverage cowl earlier than the assault.
“I can not afford insurance coverage. The financial system does not permit it,” he mentioned.
One of many vehicles broken at Maponya Mall.
One in all a number of vehicles that had been petrol bombed and shot at on Thursday night.
The driving force is contemplating altering the placement the place he works as a result of he feels Soweto is not protected.
“I might go to Sandton. It might be costlier as a result of I dwell right here [in Soweto], however drivers do not get attacked on this method in Sandton,” he mentioned.
WATCH | E-hailing driver speeds off with buyer’s youngsters, saying he feared metered taxi drivers
One other driver, who additionally had stitches on his head, mentioned his automobile was additionally not insured, and that he could not afford to repair it.
The attackers, he mentioned, stole his automotive keys, smashed his home windows, and made off with R1 500 and his driver’s licence.
He mentioned the attackers wore black clothes.
They grabbed his cellphone by one of many automotive’s home windows and requested him if he was a Bolt driver, he advised News24.
He mentioned:
I advised them I did not have passengers within the automotive. One in all them grabbed a gun, and one other took a stick and smashed my windscreen. Others took my cash, cellphone, pockets and licence. I do not know what to do. I do not know find out how to transfer ahead.
One other man, who just isn’t an e-hailing driver however discovered himself in the midst of the chaos, mentioned he had spent the afternoon on the mall along with his spouse.
He mentioned his automotive was additionally vandalised and set alight.
He’s paying month-to-month instalments of R6 000 for the automotive, which come to an finish in 2025.
READ | Fearful Cape City e-hailing drivers slam ‘weird and fairly scary’ assaults in some areas
“I used to be blindsided. I hardly keep in mind what occurred and who the lads had been,” he mentioned.
A KFC worker advised News24 assaults on e-hailing drivers had been widespread on the mall.
She fears for her security as a result of the attackers are sometimes armed with weapons, she mentioned.
She added:
What we noticed at the moment was traumatic. One driver ran and collapsed contained in the mall. He was badly injured and bleeding. He could not use his toes. He collapsed. It is not proper that individuals die attempting to earn a dwelling they work exhausting for. We’re all hustling and have households to assist.
Soweto Parliament chief Nhlanhla “Lux” Dlamini mentioned the drivers alleged that the attackers had been opponents within the taxi business.
He mentioned e-hailing drivers, transport sector representatives and mall administration officers would meet to debate methods to keep away from comparable incidents sooner or later.
“We’d like a everlasting answer to the issue. We will not hold having this downside each six months. There’s all the time uncertainty, and it is not restricted to Soweto,” he mentioned.
Police remark can be added as soon as acquired.
