IN CONVERSATION WITH DONALD SELAMOLELA
Loading player...
In a direct response to escalating violence against e-hailing drivers in Soweto and KwaZulu-Natal, Parliament has fast-tracked new regulatory measures under the National Land Transport Amendment Act. Transport Committee chair Donald Selamolela emphasized the urgent need for legislation that specifically governs platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and inDrive. These regulations will include stringent vetting processes, including criminal background checks, mandatory panic buttons, up-to-date driver profile photos, and operating licences tied to designated geographic zones to prevent conflict with traditional taxi routes.
This legislative urgency stems from a series of fatal attacks, the most notable being the horrifying August 13, 2025, incident at Maponya Mall in Soweto. On that evening, four armed assailants opened fire on a group of e-hailing drivers killing 27-year-old Siyanda Mvelase and setting his car alight, while two other vehicles were torched and bystanders were injured. The attack, widely believed to be tied to ongoing turf wars between taxi operators and e-hailing services, triggered protests and a sharp national outcry over the rising trend of deadly clashes.
In the broader context, at least 13 e-hailing drivers have lost their lives over a span of just two weeks in 2025, and countless others have been subjected to intimidation, assaults, vehicle arson, and forced “protection” schemes in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The lack of a clear regulatory framework is seen as exacerbating these conflicts, prompting urgent calls from the E-Hailing Partners Council and other stakeholders for protective legislation. In turn, Parliament’s fast-tracking of the NLTA regulations seeks to establish order by integrating e-hailing into the public transport system through licensing, data oversight, and compliance enforcement while mitigating the violent turf disputes with taxi associations.
Joining us now is the Chairperson of Parliament’s Transport Committee, Donald Selamolela. He will share more on the committee’s urgent push to fast-track new e-hailing regulations, following the recent surge in violent attacks against drivers in Soweto and KwaZulu-Natal.
This legislative urgency stems from a series of fatal attacks, the most notable being the horrifying August 13, 2025, incident at Maponya Mall in Soweto. On that evening, four armed assailants opened fire on a group of e-hailing drivers killing 27-year-old Siyanda Mvelase and setting his car alight, while two other vehicles were torched and bystanders were injured. The attack, widely believed to be tied to ongoing turf wars between taxi operators and e-hailing services, triggered protests and a sharp national outcry over the rising trend of deadly clashes.
In the broader context, at least 13 e-hailing drivers have lost their lives over a span of just two weeks in 2025, and countless others have been subjected to intimidation, assaults, vehicle arson, and forced “protection” schemes in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The lack of a clear regulatory framework is seen as exacerbating these conflicts, prompting urgent calls from the E-Hailing Partners Council and other stakeholders for protective legislation. In turn, Parliament’s fast-tracking of the NLTA regulations seeks to establish order by integrating e-hailing into the public transport system through licensing, data oversight, and compliance enforcement while mitigating the violent turf disputes with taxi associations.
Joining us now is the Chairperson of Parliament’s Transport Committee, Donald Selamolela. He will share more on the committee’s urgent push to fast-track new e-hailing regulations, following the recent surge in violent attacks against drivers in Soweto and KwaZulu-Natal.
