Madala Speaks Out After Viral Video being "Marinated" by Uber Driver

 

Madala, "old man" taxi patroller, who plays a role in regulating operations at ranks and on routes for the minibus taxi industry.

The individual has finally addressed the widely shared incident where he got "marinated" by an Uber driver. The clash reportedly occurred after Madala and his group tried to block the Uber driver from collecting a passenger in their designated area, a frequent source of tension between traditional taxi operators and e-hailing services like Uber.

According to sources close to him, Madala is deeply sorry for the escalation. They explain that he was encouraged and influenced by his colleagues, who commonly gang up to intimidate or confront competitors. In this case, however, his fellow patrollers allegedly abandoned him when the situation turned physical with the Uber driver.

Madala claims such aggressive tactics are part of an unwritten directive from higher-ups in the taxi industry: to never tolerate interference ("nonsense") on the road and to respond forcefully, no matter how minor the issue seems. He frames their role as using enforcement, including violence, to protect the sector from international companies like Uber, which they see as threatening their customer base and livelihoods.

He further emphasized a common sentiment in parts of the industry: "Indlela yama tekisi wabantu, abamnyama", translating roughly to "The transport industry belongs to the taxi industry, for black people." This reflects the view that minibus taxis are a vital economic pillar for uplifting black communities and should not be eroded by foreign-backed platforms.

The incident underscores the persistent and often violent rivalry in South Africa's public transport sector, where taxi associations have clashed with e-hailing drivers through intimidation, assaults, vehicle seizures, and in extreme cases, fatalities. These conflicts stem from competition over passengers, economic survival pressures, and disputes over unregulated operations