FOLLOWING a spate of attacks on e-hailing services at Maponya Mall, Soweto last week, truce could be found.
The bone of contention: taxi drivers/owners were unhappy with drop-offs and pick-ups at the mall by e-hailing be it Uber of Bolt, as a result three e-hailing vehicles were burnt at Maponya Mall due to a conflict that was caused by people posing as e-hailing drivers.
This week Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg, Mgcini Tshwaku, together with the MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene, met members of SAPS, taxi associations of Soweto and representatives from e-hailing services in an effort to resolve the ongoing conflict between the taxi associations and e-hailing drivers.
A committee that consists of MMCs, taxi associations, e-hailing, and other stakeholders was established. The committee was in all-day consultation meetings and some of the resolutions were:
1. JMPD and SAPS to assist in guarding the malls and identify e-hailers who are not registered. We appeal to community members to refuse when they are approached by these non-registered e-hailing drivers,
2. Uber taxis will do drop offs at the gate, they will enter only to drop off and pick up the
elderly, disabled and mothers of new-born babies,
3. The committee will meet on Friday to establish its terms of reference.
Vathuka Mbelengwa, speaking for Bolt and Uber drivers, was quoted: “You can expect Pretoria, Alexandra and the East Rand to follow suit. Within the next 48 hours you will see other attacks in those areas.”
Image (Burnt e-hailing services at Maponya Mall last week).
