Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed that new legislation will soon regulate the e-hailing sector, following ongoing tensions and violent incidents in Soweto involving drivers.
Creecy told the Sunday Times that the National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act will set out clear rules for services such as Uber and Bolt. The aim is to ease friction with the taxi industry, especially after a recent attack at Maponya Mall where an e-hailing driver was killed. Although the law has been in development for more than a decade, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed it into effect in 2024.
The new system will issue official e-hailing operating licenses, replacing the current use of charter permits and metered taxi licenses. Vehicles will need visible signs identifying them as e-hailing cars, and licenses will specify the areas in which they are allowed to operate.
Drivers will undergo vetting, criminal record checks, and will be required to hold professional driving permits. To improve safety, vehicles must also be fitted with panic buttons, and drivers’ profile photos must remain updated for accurate passenger verification.
Non-compliance could lead to penalties of up to R100,000 or prison terms of as much as two years. Authorities will also have the power to suspend or revoke licenses if operators break the rules. The Act, approved by Creecy in March, is expected to be gazetted in October once translated into a second official language.
Tensions between the taxi industry and e-hailing platforms have been ongoing for years. Groups like the Soweto Taxi Association and Santaco have argued that unlicensed operators pretending to be e-hailing drivers undercut legitimate services, fueling conflict. The NLTA is intended to close these gaps and bring more fairness to the industry.
Creecy emphasized that while the Act should reduce violence, it will not halt the broader evolution of transport. She noted that taxi operators need to adapt to changing realities or risk being left behind. Research has shown that minibus taxis remain best suited for short-distance travel in areas like the Western Cape, while rail is more efficient for longer trips.
Her department is also working with Gauteng and the Western Cape on better integration between transport modes, with Gauteng developing a single ticket system that could be used across buses, taxis, and trains.
Creecy told the Sunday Times that the National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act will set out clear rules for services such as Uber and Bolt. The aim is to ease friction with the taxi industry, especially after a recent attack at Maponya Mall where an e-hailing driver was killed. Although the law has been in development for more than a decade, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed it into effect in 2024.
The new system will issue official e-hailing operating licenses, replacing the current use of charter permits and metered taxi licenses. Vehicles will need visible signs identifying them as e-hailing cars, and licenses will specify the areas in which they are allowed to operate.
Drivers will undergo vetting, criminal record checks, and will be required to hold professional driving permits. To improve safety, vehicles must also be fitted with panic buttons, and drivers’ profile photos must remain updated for accurate passenger verification.
Non-compliance could lead to penalties of up to R100,000 or prison terms of as much as two years. Authorities will also have the power to suspend or revoke licenses if operators break the rules. The Act, approved by Creecy in March, is expected to be gazetted in October once translated into a second official language.
Tensions between the taxi industry and e-hailing platforms have been ongoing for years. Groups like the Soweto Taxi Association and Santaco have argued that unlicensed operators pretending to be e-hailing drivers undercut legitimate services, fueling conflict. The NLTA is intended to close these gaps and bring more fairness to the industry.
Creecy emphasized that while the Act should reduce violence, it will not halt the broader evolution of transport. She noted that taxi operators need to adapt to changing realities or risk being left behind. Research has shown that minibus taxis remain best suited for short-distance travel in areas like the Western Cape, while rail is more efficient for longer trips.
Her department is also working with Gauteng and the Western Cape on better integration between transport modes, with Gauteng developing a single ticket system that could be used across buses, taxis, and trains.
