Soweto: Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has announced that the situation at Maponya Mall in Soweto has been stabilized following community unrest over the death of an e-hailing driver last week. Her efforts to mitigate tensions among the community, taxi drivers, and e-hailing operators included a visit to the mall this morning.

According to South African Government News Agency, the unrest was sparked by the shooting death of Mthokozisi Mvelase, a 27-year-old e-hailing driver, at a pickup point near the mall. The incident also left two others injured, prompting the local community to blockade the mall entrances and causing its temporary closure. Mvelase had recently joined the e-hailing service.

Diale-Tlabela's visit aimed to address tensions within the public transport sector by engaging with stakeholders and assessing the situation. She also met with mall management and taxi operators as part of her ongoing efforts.

In her statement, Diale-Tlabela assured the public that calm has been restored, and the mall is set to reopen. She emphasized the collaboration with Soweto's e-hailing organization and highlighted the presence of additional law enforcement to maintain order.

The MEC stressed the importance of safety and reiterated that lawlessness will not be tolerated. She urged the community to allow business operations to resume so that residents can access essential services.