Minibus Taxi Mysteriously Ignites While Commuters Await Boarding

Thohoyandou – Commuters were stunned when a stationary minibus taxi unexpectedly ignited at Mvusuludzo Shopping Centre in Thohoyandou, Limpopo.

The minibus taxi, which operates between Thohoyandou and Shayandima, was parked on Monday, 6 October 2025, waiting to transport commuters when flames erupted.

Visibly shaken, commuter Gladys Mungani, who was about to board the taxi, remarked: “I am still in shock.”

She continued, “I was standing right next to the taxi when the fire erupted.”

Taxi drivers and bystanders tried in vain to extinguish the flames with water.

The fire consumed the entire vehicle.

Fortunately, other minibus taxis nearby were spared from the inferno.

Speculating about possible foul play, Mungani stated: “The fire just started out of nowhere, but it’s a stroke of luck or the grace of God that no one got hurt.”

Conversely, Edwin Mulaudzi, a minibus taxi driver, suggested that the fire may have been triggered by a wiring issue.

“It’s heartbreaking to lose property in such a way. I feel for my brother, who was driving it, as he may be without work with the festive season coming up,” said Mulaudzi.

The incident left a lasting impact on shoppers in Thohoyandou, a small city in the Limpopo Province, south of Venda, known for its rich agricultural and cultural heritage.

Shopper Happy Ramudzuli expressed his anxiety, saying he is now fearful of boarding a minibus taxi after witnessing the fire.

“If I had another option, I wouldn’t take a taxi today because I still have goosebumps from what I saw,” the frightened commuter admitted.

“What if I had been inside the taxi when the fire broke out?”

“But since I still need to get home, I have no choice but to take a taxi, despite my concerns.”

Police and fire rescue teams were notably absent at the scene.