The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has urged all e-hailing app providers operating in the province to register their digital platforms legally, as required under the National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act.

The directive is part of the government’s push to align national and provincial transport frameworks, and to ensure that all operators comply with the newly implemented e-hailing regulations.
This latest call for compliance follows engagements held earlier in Fourways, where officials from the National Department of Transport (NDoT) told e-hailing drivers and operators that they have 180 days to meet the requirements of the amended act.

The workshop, hosted by Bolt South Africa in partnership with the NDoT and the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity (GPRE), marked the first formal interaction between the platform and government since the new law came into effect.

Read more: Workshop lays out new requirements for e-hailing drivers and their cars

During the Fourways session, NDoT director Muzi Simelani told drivers that the government had given them more than enough time to ensure compliance. “You have six months to make sure that you comply with the new regulations. We know that South Africans tend to do things at the last minute, but failure to comply will mean you cease to operate.”

He emphasised that operating licences, safety requirements, and regulatory checks were now compulsory under the NLTA Act.

The amended act requires e-hailing operators to obtain specific operating licences, undergo background checks, use RICA-registered SIM cards, and ensure their vehicles meet safety standards, including visible e-hailing signage and panic-alert systems. Non-compliance could result in hefty fines or imprisonment.

Building on those directives, Gauteng MEC for Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has now shifted the focus to e-hailing platform providers themselves, insisting that the e-hailing companies, such as Bolt, Uber, and inDrive, must also meet their legal obligations.

According to Section 66(A) of the NLTA Act, all digital applications used for e-hailing must be registered with the National Department of Transport, through the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR) before any operator can apply for an operating licence at the provincial level. “The growth of the e-hailing service in Gauteng has been significant, offering valuable mobility options and creating economic opportunities for thousands of operators.

Also read: E-hailing drivers given 180 days to comply with new Transport Amendment Act regulations

“However, this growth must take place within a transparent and well-regulated environment that protects both operators and commuters.”

She urged app companies to submit their registrations, and to work with the government to build an accountable, efficient, and lawful public transport system.

App providers are required to register their digital platforms at the NDoT offices at 159 Struben Street, Forum Building, Pretoria.

The department said registering is in the interest of both app companies and drivers, as compliance will enable the GPRE to start receiving and deciding on operating licence applications.

To support the rollout, GPRE will hold meetings across the province to explain the requirements and guide both operators and app providers through the registration process.

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