{"id":835846,"date":"2025-08-24T08:22:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T06:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=835846"},"modified":"2025-08-24T08:43:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T06:43:28","slug":"big-changes-coming-for-uber-and-bolt-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/835846\/big-changes-coming-for-uber-and-bolt-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Big changes coming for Uber and Bolt in South Africa\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says new legislation will better regulate the e-hailing space following major violence breaking out in Soweto. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, taxi operators killed one e-hailing driver and injured another two outside Maponya Mall, Soweto. This resulted in a major protest<\/a> from residents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking with the Sunday Times<\/a>, Creecy said that the National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act would introduce regulations for e-hailing services like Bolt and Uber, and could help ease rivalry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legislation, which was assented to by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024, has been on the books for well over a decade.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the new legislation, e-hailing drivers will no longer be required to use charter permits and meter taxi operating licences in South Africa. They will receive an official e-hailing operating licence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each vehicle will also be branded or carry a sign saying it is an e-hailing vehicle. Its operating licence will also lay out the geographical area in which it operates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creecy said the new system will ensure no oversupply of public transport services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

E-hailing drivers will also be vetted and subject to criminal record checks per the new regulations. A professional driving permit will also be required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vehicles will need panic buttons, and drivers must ensure their profile photo is up-to-date for client identification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Failure to comply with the current regulations could carry a penalty of up to two years in prison or a financial penalty of up to R100,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regulators are empowered to withdraw or suspend licences in cases where an operator has contravened the NLTA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creecy approved the NLTA Act in March. It is currently being translated into a second official language before being gazetted for implementation, which should be in October. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big push for change <\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

From the outset, a significant push for the NLTA Act was its ability to reduce tensions between metered taxi and ride-hailing drivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident outside Maponya Mall is just one of many incidents where violence between e-hailing drivers and taxis has hit South Africa, particularly in Soweto. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Soweto Taxi Association<\/a> previously had issues with individuals with no credentials posing as e-hailing drivers to make a commission, which were often at an uncompetitive rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said implementing the NLTA Act is necessary given the current situation, which has led to a proliferation of unregulated operators in the space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Creecy believes the new laws will help reduce violence, she stressed that change was inevitable and coming to the industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She noted that taxi operators are still part of the modern world, where you either change with the times or don\u2019t survive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She noted that research in the Western Cape showed minibus taxis were best suited for the final leg of a commuter\u2019s journey and not long stretches, where rail was better for communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minister said that the department was working with the Western Cape and Gauteng to promote interoperability between the different modes of transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She noted that Gauteng has been looking for an integrated ticketing system where one ticket can be used for bus, taxi, and train travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Land Transport Amendment Act can be found below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n