South African Uber and Metered Taxi Wars: Cars Torched

At least three cars were burned down in Sandton, Johannesburg last night in the long-running metered taxi and Uber war. The Citizen reports that two of the cars are believed to belong to Uber drivers. Uber drivers are reported by EWN to have started attacking stationary metered taxi cars in retaliation.

Metered taxi drivers in South Africa have been feeling threatened by the success of Uber in the country, leading to them resorting to violence, especially in Johannesburg and Pretoria. They feel the American company is stealing their customers as Uber fares are lower than those of traditional metered taxis.

Earlier this year, an Uber driver died after he suffered burn injuries when his car was burnt down allegedly by metered taxi drivers.

#Uber WATCH Uber cars that have been torched in Sandton. CM pic.twitter.com/d2LkbcIJV1

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) 7 September 2017

@Eusebius we can't act all surprised that #Uber drivers are finally pushing back! They've BEEN on their own coz seems nobody gives a F***

— DJ Fresh (Big Dawg) (@DJFreshSA) 8 September 2017

Dear Metered Taxis, even without uber, 🗣WE WON'T USE YOU!   You are expensive, entitled thugs! #Uber

— Rategang Moroke (@Rategang_M) 7 September 2017

JUST IN #Uber Taxi drivers attacking, pelting stones at Meter Taxi Drivers. WATCH pic.twitter.com/xZV7UT4bBg

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) 7 September 2017

What do you mean sir? Metro Police is under the city of Johannesburg... These are our brothers and sisters...😭 #Uber

— Uyanda Mbuli (@UyandaM) 7 September 2017

KFC and Chicken Licken coexist, why can't metered taxis and #Uber? What happened in #Sandton is disgraceful, this violence needs to stop.

— iNkosazana💎👑 (@ItIsShe_Nkuli) 7 September 2017