The Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has called on residents of Soweto to allow the Maponya Mall to open for business on Friday.
This comes after the mall was closed on Thursday following the gunning down of an e-hailing service driver and the torching of two vehicles on Wednesday night.
Last night, residents held a candlelight vigil outside the main entrance of the mall in memory of 27-year-old Mthokosizi Khuzwayo.
A minibus driver was also killed and two other people were wounded after being shot in what are believed to be tensions between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers this week.
Soweto residents have vowed to ensure that the mall is closed for seven days.
Diale-Tlabela says lawlessness will not be tolerated. “Let’s allow business to continue and allow other members of the community to have access to the services they so much need. People could not access Sassa (South African Social Security Agency Services) and we had to transport them out of the mall because there is no way we can have the mall closing for seven days, other people require this income and you know retailing they earn per day and get salaries daily, and you must be present to earn an income so we can’t allow this.”
SABC News’ Calvin Dludla is reporting from Maponya Mall this morning:
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