Violence erupted on the evening of Wednesday, 13 August 2025, as gunshots and flames transformed the entrance of Maponya Mall in Soweto into a scene of terror. What began as a typical evening descended into chaos when unknown assailants targeted e-hailing vehicles, leaving one person dead and two others wounded.
According to Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, a police spokeswoman, the attack began when an e-hailing vehicle stopped near the mall’s entrance. About four men approached swiftly, opening fire on the driver before setting the vehicle ablaze. Moments later, another nearby e-hailing car was attacked and torched. In that instance, the driver managed to flee the scene but was not unscathed; both that driver and a passerby sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Security authorities, including SAPS (South African Police Service) and JMPD (Johannesburg Metro Police Department), responded immediately. A murder case, two counts of attempted murder, and arson have been registered, and investigators are exploring the possibility that the violence is tied to ongoing disputes within the taxi industry.
Shoppers and nearby residents were left shaken and horrified as smoke billowed from the burning vehicles, casting a grim shadow over what should have been a routine outing.https://x.com/MDNnewss/status/1955703387946623221?t=S5zYDEgrurQ7csCKBsdC6A&s=19
Local media outlets echoed the grim scene: IOL reported that “one person has been declared dead and two others injured after a vicious attack on e-hailing vehicles at Maponya Mall”. Additional coverage emphasized that the attackers were unknown and that law enforcement had launched a thorough investigation at the scene.
In summary, the attack at Maponya Mall was both brazen and deadly—marking a dramatic escalation in tensions affecting e-hailing and public transport operators in the area. As investigations continue, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the volatile intersection between informal transport systems and criminal violence in parts of South Africa.
