Gunmen shot dead a ride-hailing driver in Johannesburg on Wednesday, marking another flare-up in the simmering feud with minibus taxi operators.
Police said four armed men confronted the driver outside a Soweto mall, opened fire, and set his vehicle ablaze. The attackers also targeted a second ride-hailing vehicle, but its driver escaped before it too was torched. Footage of the burning cars spread rapidly on social media.
Two people, including a passer-by, were wounded in the gunfire, according to police. Authorities have opened cases of murder, attempted murder, and arson, suspecting the attack was linked to ongoing taxi violence. Tensions between app-based drivers and traditional taxi operators have escalated in recent years, with minibus drivers accusing platforms like Uber and Bolt of undercutting their trade.
Minibus taxis remain South Africa’s primary mode of transport, but the industry is plagued by chaotic operations and, in some areas, criminal control. Deadly turf wars between rival taxi associations are common, leaving both drivers and passengers caught in a cycle of intimidation and bloodshed.
Ride-hailing drivers often face threats or physical attacks when entering zones dominated by minibus operators, forcing them to avoid entire neighbourhoods. The latest killing underscores the peril of a transport sector where competition is measured not in fares, but in lives lost.
