The Pimville Church congregation gathered at Maponya Mall on Sunday, 17 August 2025, to honour the life of e-hailing driver Mthokozisi Mvelase, who was brutally slain in Soweto. This solemn gathering served not only as a moment of reflection and healing but also as a vocal stand against the growing violence affecting e-hailing operators in South Africa.
Tragic Death Sparks National Concern
Mthokozisi Mvelase, a 27-year-old e-hailing driver, was shot and his vehicle set alight in a harrowing act of violence that has shocked the nation. His remains were burnt beyond recognition, leaving his family in KwaZulu-Natal devastated and without closure.
“What is more dreadful is that we have been told he was burnt to ashes. They only recovered his shinbone,” said Mvelase’s uncle, Mlamuli Khuzwayo, in a statement.
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Pimville Church Offers a Beacon of Hope
Amid growing fears and trauma, Pimville Church members held a powerful prayer and healing service. The church chose Maponya Mall, the site of the incident, to send a message of peace and spiritual solidarity.
Prayers at the Site of the Crime
Led by the Methodist Church’s youth ministry, the congregation sang hymns and marched from the church to the scene where Mvelase’s vehicle was torched.
“We are bringing peace and prayers to the mall and assuring people that we care,” said Moshe Molefe, treasurer of Pimville Methodist Church, said in an interview.
E-Hailing Drivers in the Crosshairs
This tragedy has reignited national debates over the safety of e-hailing drivers, who remain vulnerable in high-crime zones and amid ongoing tensions with minibus taxi operators. Advocacy groups and driver unions are calling for better regulation, improved policing, and government support.
A Cry for Help from the Family
The Mvelase family is appealing for donations to cover funeral expenses and repatriate his remains to their home in KwaZulu-Natal. Without a full body, the family faces deep emotional and cultural trauma.
“Currently, we have no money for burial. We have nothing,” added Khuzwayo. Read the full family account on IOL.
Faith-Based Response to Social Violence
The event highlights how churches like Pimville Church play a critical role in promoting peace, unity, and emotional restoration in violent and economically stressed communities. By providing a moral and spiritual compass, churches are bridging the gap between trauma and healing.
For more details on the tragic killing of the e-hailing driver, read our full report on the Maponya Mall Shut Down After Tragic E-Hailing Driver Killing.
Community Leaders Call for Safety Reforms
Community activists at the prayer service urged the local government to ensure greater protection for e-hailing drivers. Some proposed technology-based safety tools and increased collaboration between SAPS and transport platforms like Uber and Bolt.
Nationwide Implications for E-Hailing Operators
As e-hailing continues to grow in urban centres, concerns about driver safety, extortion, and criminal syndicates are mounting. According to recent SAPS data, attacks on transport workers, especially in Gauteng, have risen steadily in 2025.
South Africans Urged to Stand Together
The Pimville Church prayer was a reminder that healing can begin with compassion, community, and faith. Leaders encouraged South Africans to reject violence and advocate for justice, regardless of political or economic affiliation.
