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Uber and Bolt drivers in Soweto can breathe a sigh of relief due to a continuous police presence at the hotspots of violence they suffer, allegedly perpetrated by taxi drivers.
City Press spoke to some e-hailing drivers at Maponya, Jabulani and Protea Glen malls following the chaos that erupted at Maponya Mall last month when taxi drivers allegedly shot two e-hailing drivers and torched their vehicles.
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Kabelo Mokoena, who had his vehicle vandalised in Maponya, said the visible police presence inside the vicinity of the mall has enabled them to do business freely.
He added that there have not been acts of intimidation or violence in the area since last month.
Said Mokoena:
Mokoena said the windscreen and backlights of his vehicle were damaged after they were hit with stones during that violence.
“I had to borrow about R10 000 to help me deal with the damages to the car so that I could continue working. This is the main source of income, which I rely on to feed my family and pay my bills,” he said.
READ: Soweto Uber and Bolt drivers live in fear following violence at Maponya Mall
Sipho Zondi, who has been operating around the Protea Glen Mall for five years, mentioned that the violence threatened his livelihood and he wanted to quit e-hailing but he couldn't find a job.
“I have a marketing degree I obtained in 2018 and I have been struggling to get a job ever since, so driving Bolt helps me take care of my children.”
The father of two said it was the second time being attacked in a year.
“I nearly got hijacked just months before being attacked by taxi drivers, but I am grateful to see the police regularly patrolling the area.”
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National Taxi Alliance spokesperson Theo Malele told City Press that they did not condone any form of violence but government must intervene by creating an app for taxi drivers, adding:
