Gauteng DA Urges Public Transparency In Taxi And E-Hailing Talks After Maponya Mall Violence

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has called for all engagements between taxi operators and e-hailing services to be made public, ensuring transparency and the inclusion of affected commuters.

This follows an announcement by Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela of plans to hold monthly meetings between the two groups at Maponya Mall.

The proposal comes in the wake of rising tensions, with taxi operators suspected of being behind a recent attack on e-hailing drivers at the Soweto mall.

Fatal Shooting Sparks Urgent Action

The violence erupted on Tuesday, leaving one e-hailing driver dead and two others wounded by gunfire. On Thursday, the MEC met with industry leaders in a closed meeting, resulting in a commitment for all parties to work together at shopping malls across the province.

However, the DA believes that private negotiations are not enough and that commuters—who rely heavily on both taxi and e-hailing services—must have a voice in the process.

‘Commuters Cannot Be Held Hostage’

Nicole van Dyk, DA Gauteng spokesperson for roads, criticised the lack of transparency, warning that violent confrontations should not be happening while negotiations are conducted behind closed doors.

“Commuters cannot be held hostage by one part of the public transport industry because they feel that ‘business’ is being taken away from them,” she said. “Competition in any industry is normal, but ongoing fights cannot be the norm.”

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Van Dyk stressed that public engagement is essential to break the cycle of violence and ensure safe, reliable transport options for Gauteng residents.

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