President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed the National Land Transport Amendment Bill into law, requiring e-hailing drivers to apply for operating licenses like other modes of public transport. This move has been welcomed by popular e-hailing platforms such as Bolt and Uber, as it provides legal clarity and recognition to the industry after over a decade of operation.
Bolt’s acting head of regulatory and policy in Africa, Weyinmi Aghadiuno, described the law as a significant development to address industry challenges. Uber also acknowledged the bill as a step in the right direction.
The Department of Transport aims to provide guidelines for e-hailing services, including operating licenses, ending a 13-year wait. While South Africa’s biggest taxi associations have welcomed the development, tensions between e-hailing and taxi operators remain. Western Cape e-hailing association member Siyabonga Hlabisa expressed doubts about easing tensions with the minibus taxi industry.
The introduction of operating licenses is seen as a way to officially include e-hailing drivers in the passenger transport sector. However, challenges such as permit backlogs and oversupply issues need to be addressed for a successful rollout.