Six months after e-hailing driver Mthokozisi Siyanda Mvelase was gunned down and his car set alight at Maponya Mall in Soweto, his family claims police have yet to provide any updates on the investigation.
Image: Facebook
The family of e-hailing driver Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase, who was shot and burned at Maponya Mall in Soweto, last year in August, says it fears his murder case may be forgotten as they received no updates from police six months after the killing.
However, Gauteng police say the investigation is ongoing.
Mvelase, who was 27 at the time of death, was killed in an incident believed to be linked to ongoing tensions between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers.
The attack took place on the evening of August 13, at Maponya Mall in Soweto.
He was declared dead at the scene, while two other people were injured.
Police said an e-hailing vehicle had stopped at the entrance of the mall when four men approached and opened fire on the driver before setting the vehicle alight.
Another nearby vehicle was also targeted. Its driver managed to escape, but the car was set on fire.
The driver and a passer-by sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital.
Police opened a case of murder, two counts of attempted murder and arson.
IOL News previously reported that Mvelase had started working as an e-hailing driver just two days before he was killed.
He had bought his car two weeks earlier.
Six months after the incident, Mvelase’s aunt, Zanele Khuzwayo, claimed the family had not received any communication from police about the progress of the investigation.
“We have never heard anything from the police since that incident, nothing at all. No one has come to tell us what’s happening or how far the investigation is,” Khuzwayo said.
She added that another relative had tried to contact police in November last year for an update but was told the matter was still under investigation.
“My cousin tried calling the police last year in November to find out how far the investigation had gone and whether there was progress, but they told him they were still busy with investigations,” she said.
“We feel like the case has just been put aside like many others.”
Gauteng police say investigations are still continuing on the murder case of Mthokozisi Siyanda Mvelase, who was shot and burnt at Maponya Mall in Soweto last year in August.
Image: Facebook
Khuzwayo, who lives in Kempton Park, Gauteng, said Mvelase was the only child of his mother.
He was buried in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, on September 6, 2025.
She said Mvelase’s mother has struggled to cope with his death.
“She hardly sleeps since Mthokozisi died. She goes to bed around 2am, listening to music or the radio, and wakes up very early before everyone else,” Khuzwayo said.
According to the family, Mvelase’s mother was recently admitted to hospital because of the death of her only son.
“Last Monday she was admitted to Newcastle Hospital, and doctors said she was showing signs of a stroke because she hasn’t been sleeping enough,” Khuzwayo said.
“She tells us she’s fine, but as a family we can see she has changed a lot since the incident. It has affected her very badly.”
Khuzwayo said the family hopes police will make progress in the case and bring those responsible to justice.
“We hope that one day the police will catch them and send them where they belong,” she said.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed to IOL News that the case remains under investigation.
“That case is still under investigation. Should there be an update, it will be communicated accordingly,” Nevhuhulwi said.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL News