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Maponya Mall in Soweto was forced to close its doors on Thursday after residents in the area used bricks to block roads surrounding the shopping centre.
- Maponya Mall in Soweto was forced to shut down on Thursday as residents protested by blocking roads, following an attack on e-hailing drivers that left one dead and two injured.
- Residents expressed fear and frustration over ongoing violence between e-hailing drivers and taxis, which has escalated in recent months.
- Police are on the scene.
Maponya Mall in Soweto was forced to close its doors on Thursday after residents in the area, fed up with violence, used bricks to block roads surrounding the shopping centre.
Tension between e-hailing drivers and regular taxi operators has escalated in recent months, so much so that residents near the mall feel unsafe.
On Wednesday, an attack on e-hailing drivers left one person dead and two injured.
"We heard two shots first. It’s become so common that we didn’t even react immediately,” said one resident as she recalled the violence that unfolded outside her home.
"Then, my son peeked through the window and told me that cars were being set on fire. Later, we saw a woman who had been shot in the cheek stumble near our gate."
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The gunfire and the sight of injured people traumatised the family.
“That was the final straw for all of us. We phoned for help, but we were so shocked. We feel that if we can’t use the mall for good purposes, let it not function,” she added.
Scenes outside the Maponya Mall in Soweto, where residents are protesting following the shooting and killing of an e-hailing driver.
Scenes outside the Maponya Mall in Soweto, where residents are protesting following the shooting and killing of an e-hailing driver.
Scenes outside the Maponya Mall in Soweto, where residents are protesting following the shooting and killing of an e-hailing driver.
Police were on the scene where the roads were blocked by 11:00 on Thursday to negotiate with the protest leadership.
News24 understands that mall management officials are on their way there too.
Residents told News24 that there was a lack of communication between them and mall management over safety in the area and the presence of taxis and e-hailing drivers at the mall.
Scenes outside the Maponya Mall in Soweto, where residents are protesting following the shooting and killing of an e-hailing driver.
Scenes outside the Maponya Mall in Soweto, where residents are protesting following the shooting and killing of an e-hailing driver.
Scenes outside the Maponya Mall in Soweto, where residents are protesting following the shooting and killing of an e-hailing driver.
The mall representatives’ comments will be added once received.
Lesiba Mpya, the spokesperson for the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, described the killing and tension as “unfortunate and barbaric”.
“This is a reaction from the community. They want to protest against what has happened. They don’t want activity in the mall today,” Mpya said.
