iNews24Online News that reach your home
The family of 27-year-old Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase, the e-hailing driver who was brutally murdered in a violent attack at Maponya Mall in Soweto, is making a desperate plea for assistance to return his remains to their home in Nhlungwane, Ulundi, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Mvelase, an only child and breadwinner for his family, had recently begun work with an e-hailing company in Johannesburg. According to relatives, he was determined to build a better future for himself and his ailing mother. His life, however, was cut short in a horrific act of violence when he was shot and then set alight inside his vehicle during clashes between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers.
For his grieving family, the tragedy has been almost unbearable. They describe Mvelase as a quiet, respectful, and ambitious young man who had big dreams of uplifting his loved ones. “He wanted to build his mother a proper house and create a better life for her,” said his aunt, Ntombenhle. “He even called us on Monday, sharing his excitement about these plans. Now those dreams are gone forever.”
His uncle, Mlamuli Khuzwayo, said the family was left shattered after hearing from authorities that the attack was so brutal that his body was burned beyond recognition, leaving only a single bone to be recovered for burial. “We are in disbelief,” he explained. “Maybe we would have found some closure if they had spared his body after shooting him. But to burn him like that… it is something we cannot understand.”
What compounds their grief is their financial situation. The family has no money to arrange a funeral or to travel to Johannesburg to collect Mvelase’s remains. “We are asking for help,” Khuzwayo pleaded. “We just want to bring him home to lay him to rest with dignity.”
The tragedy has not only devastated the family but also ignited anger in the community. In the days following the murder, Maponya Mall was shut down by angry residents who demanded answers from the taxi industry, e-hailing companies, and law enforcement authorities. Protests erupted outside the mall, with community members insisting that violent clashes between transport operators must end before more innocent lives are lost.
Mlamuli Khuzwayo has also called for justice, urging the government and the police to act swiftly. “We want those who did this to be arrested and punished. Our country cannot continue to tolerate this level of violence. Families are being destroyed, and lives are being taken in the most brutal ways.”
The killing has reignited debate over the ongoing tensions between the taxi industry and e-hailing drivers, a conflict that has claimed lives before. The e-hailing sector has since renewed its call for the government to strengthen regulations and provide better protection for drivers and passengers alike. Industry representatives warn that without urgent intervention, more families could be left in the same heart-wrenching position as the Mvelases.
For now, the family’s priority remains one thing: bringing Mvelase home. With limited resources and overwhelmed by grief, they continue to appeal to the public and authorities for assistance.
“Why would they burn his body after killing him?” one family member asked in anguish. “We cannot understand how people could be so cruel.”
As the police investigation drags on and the family struggles with their loss, questions about justice, safety, and accountability remain unanswered. Meanwhile, in Ulundi, a mother waits in sorrow for the return of her only child — a son who left home with hope in his heart, but will return only as a memory.
