It is alleged that meter taxi drivers have petrol-bombed several Uber vehicles outside the Sandton Gautrain Station.
“TRT and riot police are going to take over the scene from Metro police as it’s becoming more dangerous and hostile,” said Jacques du Plessis, an ambulance driver for Quick Response Service.
UPDATE: ANC calls for an end to violent clashes among public transport operators
Uber drivers are gathering in Sandton outside the Michelangelo hotel as the situation intensifies.
Uber released a statement on its Facebook page confirming that one of the vehicles involved in the incident was registered to use the Uber app.
Read the full statement here:
Listen: Jacques Du Plessis Shares Insight From The Uber Attacks In Sandton
Listen: Jacques Du Plessis Warns Ambulances To Keep Their Distance
Due to the incident, Sandton resident, Richard McDonald, had to organise alternative transport home after attending an art fair at the Sandton Convention Centre. He had planned to take an Uber.
He said the roads were closed and another resident from the Woodrock Residents’ Association offered him a lift home.
After the fires had been extinguished, McDonald visited the scene and took this photo:
McDonald said he saw the first burnt car between Nelson Mandela Square and the Sandton Convention Centre. The second burnt car was near Citibank.
Watch these videos, doing the rounds on social media, of the vehicles burning:
According to social cohesion advocate, Yusuf Abramjee, a meter taxi had also been set alight.
A metered taxi has now been set alight in Sandton.
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 7, 2017
He added that police were trying to disperse the perpetrators:
Police are firing stunt grenades in Sandton in an attempt to disperse taxi operators at war. @ismailvadi @MbalulaFikile @GP_CommSafety
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 7, 2017
On Twitter, he shared photos of the vehicles after the flames had been extinguished:
Sandton taxi violence. @Uber_RSA @ismailvadi @GP_CommSafety @MbalulaFikile pic.twitter.com/uXKvkuoXwj
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 7, 2017
Many others took to Twitter to comment on the incident:
#Uber taxis #torched in #Sandton 😳 https://t.co/aqgbbtbwD6
— Qhama Dayile (@RealYachi_sa) September 7, 2017
Friends, please be careful tonight. Uber wars in Sandton. #Sandton
— Val Masutha (@Vizzle5) September 7, 2017
fire fighters extinguish two uber taxis petrol bombed outside #sandton gautrain station by metered taxi drivers. pic.twitter.com/UWAhSo4iOs
— @GuapTunes (@GuapTunes) September 7, 2017
Completely unbelievable, this must come to an end. #Sandton https://t.co/SXDjCgabRD
— KhayelihleKhumalo-James Jnr (@KhayaJames) September 7, 2017
At this stage in life, I will never use uber or meter taxi, this is terrible. Id rather walk to my destination. #Sandton
— IAMMakgabo (@CandyMakgabo) September 7, 2017
Sandton Chronicle will provide more details as they become available.
