The City of Johannesburg, through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), is developing a new e-hailing management policy, to regulate delivery and passenger services, such as Uber Eats, Mr D, Checkers Sixty60, and emerging scooter-based ride services.

Residents have been invited to participate in an online public meeting on November 24 from 10:00 to 13:00 on Microsoft Teams.

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Announcing the meeting, Sean Kreusch, the city’s Section 79 MMC for Transport, says the policy is urgently needed, as Johannesburg faces increasing road safety risks, regulatory loopholes, and a delivery-service boom the city was never prepared for. “They’re trying to make a living, but the way they drive has become dangerous.”

Kreusch acknowledges the economic reality driving e-hailing and delivery riders, but says the rush to meet tight deadlines is contributing to reckless behaviour on the roads. “They’re obviously trying to make a living, so, they’re driving like maniacs to hit to their 15, 20, 30-minute deadlines. They get paid per trip, so they’re keen to get that done, but this creates huge risks for motorists, riders, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

He said that accidents involving motorcycles raise questions about third-party liability, insurance coverage, and the condition of vehicles on the road. “We’re not sure how many of these bikes are insured, especially when many are rented. Some of them are not roadworthy or even visible.” While some companies, he says, have started improving rider safety gear, others have not.

Kreusch says the city has been overwhelmed by the rapid rise of delivery bikes and e-hailing vehicles, partly because regulations never evolved to match the industry. “It’s a very complex situation. More and more of them are on the road. It’s important to have a policy, because we’ve let this thing get out of control.”

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He warns that even passenger transport is now shifting to scooters, further complicating licensing requirements, such as professional driving permits (PDPs).

The province, he adds, has tried to centralise the e-hailing system and integrate it with taxis, an approach he personally believes is disastrous. Kreusch was blunt about the root cause: Poor governance. “It’s like all things in this country: We’re not proactive. Everything has to reach a crisis where people die or taxis get set on fire. The explosion of delivery bikes started in 2020, with Covid. This isn’t new. It’s just been ignored.”

The agenda for the public meeting has not been clearly outlined, but Kreusch says he intends to participate, both as a resident and a politician. “It’s an opportunity for people to say their say. Insurance companies also need to be part of this discussion. They’re paying out for damage to cars, bikes, and even infrastructure.”

He encouraged ratepayer associations to attend and share the information widely.

Public participants are encouraged to register to join the meeting before November 21 through this link Here.

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