A coordinated investigation has been initiated following a harrowing assault on an e-hailing operator in KwaZulu-Natal, after provincial Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma denounced the incident as a serious threat to commuter safety and industry peace.
The MEC’s statement, delivered Thursday, responded to urgent alerts from the KZN e-Hailing Council, which provided video evidence of the confrontation. Footage shows an e-hailing driver transporting female passengers when he was stopped by armed individuals reportedly employed as security guards by the KwaNdengezi Taxi Association.
According to officials, the men are seen in the video displaying firearms and instructing the driver to immediately release his passengers. The encounter turned dangerous when gunfire struck the vehicle’s tyres, causing the driver to lose control and crash into a second vehicle.
To address the incident, the provincial government has assembled a joint investigative unit comprising representatives from the Public Regulatory Entity, Operation Shanela, the South African Police Service, and Metro Police. Their mandate includes tracing the source of the firearms, identifying the security company involved, and establishing criminal liability.
MEC Duma stressed the importance of forensic precision in the inquiry: “Ballistic specialists must be brought in to perform immediate on-scene analysis of any cartridge cases recovered.”
He further urged the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) to intervene, noting that security personnel who discharge firearms in such circumstances may have breached the Private Security Industry Regulation Act. “Those wielding guns under the guise of private security must face full scrutiny under the law,” he stated.
The MEC also reiterated the provincial administration’s resolve to foster a secure and stable public transport environment. He highlighted continued engagement with the South African National Taxi Council and other essential partners to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than violence.
As the investigation proceeds, authorities have appealed to witnesses and industry members to cooperate fully. The provincial government affirmed its commitment to protecting both transport workers and passengers, and to ensuring that those responsible for the attack are held accountable under South African law.