By Thapelo Molefe
The ongoing tensions between taxi drivers and e-hailing operators have now spread into KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where two e-hailing drivers were shot and assaulted in KK Section, KwaDabeka Township outside Durban.
The violence has prompted swift intervention from provincial authorities and police, who arrested between 10 and 15 suspects in connection with the attacks.
KZN tansport and human settlements MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed the arrests on Thursday, commending the joint response by provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) and the metro police.
“The shooting and assault of e-hailing drivers yesterday should not be repeated in any part of KwaZulu-Natal,” Duma declared.
“In particular, we welcome the arrest of between 10 and 15 suspects in this morning’s operation. They have ensured that there is peace and stability in KK Section in the interests of peace-loving people in KwaZulu-Natal.”
The KwaDabeka attack follows years of uneasy relations between South Africa’s minibus taxi industry and e-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt.
Since Uber first entered the South African market in 2013, taxi operators have accused the tech-driven services of undercutting fares, operating without proper permits and poaching passengers along established taxi routes.
These disputes have frequently turned violent. Two weeks ago, an e-hailing was killed and burnt Maponya Mall in Soweto.
Similar incidents have been recorded in Cape Town, where tensions peaked around the airport, prompting the government to intervene with stricter regulations.
“This shooting will unfortunately re-open healing wounds of relatives of the late e-hailing driver, Mthokozisi Mvelase,” Duma noted, referring to a driver killed in a previous flare-up of violence.
Following Wednesday’s attack, leaders of the KZN e-Hailing Council rushed to KwaDabeka Police Station to meet with the victims and law enforcement.
According to Duma, the council has pledged to work closely with provincial authorities to ensure peace.
Over recent months, the MEC has engaged the council in a series of meetings aimed at clarifying operating rules for e-hailing drivers and creating platforms for coexistence with the taxi industry.
“Since January this year, I assigned the department’s PRE unit to have regular meetings with the KZN e-Hailing Council, and representatives from Uber and Bolt,” he said.
“These meetings will continue until the official introduction of the regulations for the e-hailing services under the amended National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act.”
The NLTA Amendment Act, signed into law in 2020 but only recently implemented, formally recognises e-hailing as part of South Africa’s broader transport system. Importantly, it places e-hailing drivers under the same operating permit framework as minibus taxis and meter cabs.
For years, the lack of clear regulations left e-hailing operators vulnerable. Many drivers were fined or had their cars impounded for allegedly operating illegally, while taxi associations saw the unregulated services as a direct threat to their livelihoods.
Duma believes the new law can help stabilise the sector.
“The meeting between myself, the KZN e-Hailing Council and PRE will ensure that we reflect on the state of readiness for the implementation of the e-hailing industry encompassing Uber and Bolt drivers,” he explained.
He added that the Act also empowered the Minister of Transport to regulate fares, striking a balance between fair wages for drivers and affordability for passengers.
“We want drivers to have a decent income, and on the other hand, members of the public must have affordable, safe, and reliable public transport,” he said.
Behind the policy debates lies a human story. Most e-hailing drivers are young people, often breadwinners, seeking income in a precarious job market.
Duma emphasised this point in his statement: “We remain committed to work and support e-hailing drivers, who are mainly young people, determined to live a decent life.”
But for many, the work has become increasingly dangerous. In addition to low fares and high commission rates demanded by Uber and Bolt, drivers face harassment, hijackings and targeted violence from rival operators.
“The drivers are the backbone of the public transport system,” Duma stressed.
“As the department, we want to ensure that they all enjoy access to socio-economic opportunities.”
Duma acknowledged the Maponya attack and following protests by members of the public, saying he had acted quickly to ensure KZN did not suffer the same fate.
“Yesterday I offered to work with KZN provincial commissioner Lt General Mkhwanazi to ensure that the unfortunate scenes that we witnessed in Maponya Mall are not repeated in KwaZulu-Natal.”
The MEC said the operation that led to Thursday’s arrests was a direct result of this proactive approach. While details of the operation and specific charges against the suspects are still to be announced, he insisted that law enforcement had sent a clear signal of zero tolerance for violence.
At the heart of Duma’s message was a call for restraint and unity.
He promised that his department would continue working to mediate disputes, enforce new regulations and promote dialogue between e-hailing platforms, taxi associations and commuters.
He also urged communities to reject violence.
“They have ensured that there is peace and stability in KK Section in the interests of peace-loving people in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said, referring to the police.
Meanwhile, Duma has promised ongoing consultations to prepare the province for the full rollout of e-hailing regulations under the NLTA Amendment Act.
“We want to do what is in the interest of e-hailing operators, the taxi industry, and the public at large. Nothing should come between us and prosperity,” the MEC said.
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