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The Congress of South African Trade Unions(COSATU) in the Gauteng province is deeply concerned by the escalation in acts of violence through the burning of e-hailing vehicles in Soweto and strongly condemns these acts of violence, intimidation against drivers, and the torching of operators' vehicles.

The outcries are against the backdrop of the chaos that erupted at the Maponya Mall on Thursday night on the 1st of June 2023 where three e- hailing vehicles were burnt and subsequent to that, on the 5th of June 2023 again an e-hailing vehicle was burnt at Protea Glen Shopping Mall.

COSATU calls on the law enforcement authorities and the relevant state departments to take firm action to put an end to the continuing territorial battles that affect workers and community members, law enforcement to ensure a safe environment for both the public and public transport operators and the law enforcement agencies must monitor and patrol the identified hotspots to prevent acts of intimidation and violence against this worrying developing behaviour.

We urge the MEC of transport to intervene in this because a lot is at stake for the communities of Gauteng. 

Furthermore, COSATU calls on Taxi Associations and E-Hailing Services to place the safety of commuters at first, keep it a priority and to always remember that access to reliable and viable public transport remains the lifeblood of the Gauteng economy and the people of the province.

The movement of people has a direct bearing on their access to economic opportunities and more especially their quality of life, as such the people of Soweto cannot afford to have protracted conflicts in the public transport sector. COSATU calls on both parties to sit down with relevant stakeholders and try to resolve these issues.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng