The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government has pledged its support to the grieving family of Mthokozisi (Siyanda) Mvelase, a 27-year-old e-hailing driver who was brutally killed outside Maponya Mall in Soweto last week.
Mthokozisi, originally from Nhlungwane near Ulundi in northern KZN, had recently moved to Johannesburg to pursue work as an e-hailing driver.
On 13 August 2025, while on duty, he was shot and his vehicle set alight in what is believed to be a violent escalation of tensions between e-hailing operators and the taxi industry.
[UPDATE] Left with ashes, grieving KZN mother can’t afford funeral for son k¡I|ed in Soweto e-hailing attack. 💔💔💔
The family of the deceased 27-year-old e-hailing cab driver, is pleading for assistance to have his remains returned home.
Please help… 🙏 pic.twitter.com/w9N5WL1gUc
— YaseBlock B 🇸🇿 (@ThisIsColbert) August 17, 2025
The brutal nature of the attack left the Mvelase family deeply distressed. His mother, who was rushed to hospital in the wake of the tragedy, and his relatives, still reeling from the news, were left without the means to repatriate his remains from Gauteng or afford a funeral.
On Monday, the KZN MEC for Social Development, Mbali Shinga, visited the family home to express condolences and pledge support.
While acknowledging that her department could not directly fund funeral costs, she committed to mobilising resources and liaising with partners to help transport Mvelase’s remains home and ensure a dignified farewell.
KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga says they will provide assistance to the family of Siyanda Mvelase, the e-hailing driver who was shot and killed in Soweto last week. @Phila_MD has more.
Watch: https://t.co/jzp63v0bcR#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/3tjg008z1V
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 18, 2025
“Mthokozisi is known as a young man of peace and was respectful in the community,” Mbali said, indicating the family’s confusion and grief over why such a tragedy unfolded.
The public outcry following Mvelase’s death has been swift and strong. In addition to the KZN government’s response, the national government’s Transport Ministry — led by Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa — issued a statement condemning the “senseless killing” and called for those responsible to face justice.
Minister Creecy and Deputy Minister Hlengwa strongly condemn the acts of violence and criminality that
resulted in the tragic death of an e-hailing driver at Maponya Mall in Sowetohttps://t.co/NJZFEVovYj#ArriveAlive #Crime #EHailing #publictransport @Dotransport… pic.twitter.com/Qcl2yIt7qm— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) August 14, 2025
The ministry also reaffirmed a joint push to curb public transport violence by streamlining licensing procedures and strengthening regulatory frameworks for e-hailing services.
According to IOL, Uber issued a statement saying Mvelase was not registered on its platform — contradicting the family’s belief that he had started driving for Uber just days before the attack.
While the company expressed sorrow over the tragedy and offered investigative assistance, the news left the family in shock.
First published on African Insider
Words compiled by: Lisabeal Nqamqhele
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