The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has taken an official decision to license Uber driver partners as public transport operators.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aim is to ensure the continuation of a public transport service for the people of Gauteng, who have come to rely on Uber as a mode of transport,\u201d Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said on Monday.<\/p>\n
He was speaking during the launch of the process of regulating Uber partner drivers as public transport operators.<\/p>\n
According to the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) regulations, any public operator should be licensed.<\/p>\n
PRE is responsible for issuing public transport licences to qualifying public transport operators. It is also responsible for regulating public transport operators by registering public transport associations on its database.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe department encourages the use of legal modes of public transport which assist with easing congestion and the carbon footprint in the province,\u201d MEC Vadi said.<\/p>\n
He reminded passengers that they have an obligation to their own families to ensure that the modes of transport they use are operating legally.<\/p>\n
By law, drivers are required to be have a driver\u2019s licence, operating licence, roadworthy vehicles and the driver should operate and drive within the rules of the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is within the above legislative framework that the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport will regulate Uber type e-hailing services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will legitimise their operations in Gauteng and place them on an equally regulated footing with other public transport operators,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The above mentioned requirements are also in line with advice received from the National Department of Transport.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Gauteng provincial government believes that Uber partner drivers must be regulated and properly licensed just like other public transport providers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that we must create an integrated, reliable, safe, accessible and affordable public transport system,\u201d MEC Vadi said.<\/p>\n
He said even as different modes of public transport compete with one another for market share, they must play a complementary role in the public transport system as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is for this reason that today we begin the process of licensing Uber driver partners in Gauteng,\u201d MEC Vadi said.<\/p>\n
Uber could almost cut Joburg traffic in half<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SA Uber drivers protest against price cuts<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Uber slashes prices for South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n New meter law to hit Uber taxis in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n