MMC promises to sort out e-hailing permit backlog

Following the march of irate e-hailing drivers to Tshwane House last week, Transport MMC, Councillor Tlangi Mogale said that their concerns have been raised to the relevant authorities.

On January 23, hundreds of e-hailing drivers brought the CBD to a standstill when they parked their vehicles along the busy roads near Tshwane House over issues including the impounding of their vehicles and operating permits.

They were supported by organisations such as BOSA, the EFF, SANCO and MK.

The drivers held a similar march last November and say they haven’t heard a response from the metro’s transport department well past their 21-day deadline.

“Our main concern is the impoundment of our cars. Our cars are being impounded daily; if they are impounded, they ask you to pay R6 000. The Department of Transport does not want to issue the permits that they say they want, but they continue impounding our cars. So, we are paying R6 000 to comply with something that they don’t give us,” said President of the E-hailing Association in Pretoria West, Wandisile Rala.

Rala said even if drivers produce the paperwork indicating their permit is on the way, their cars are still impounded. He believes the whole exercise is using e-hailers to make up for the metro’s poor financial state.

Mogale said the metro had previously engaged with the drivers on December 10.

Over 60 drivers at the Ou Raadsaal Council Chambers presented their grievances to the metro officials in attendance.

“During the meeting, e-hailing operators had explained that while they had applied for operating licences through the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity (GPRE), there were long delays in issuing these permits,” Mogale said.

When the drivers arrived at Tshwane House, a three-hour standoff ensued in which the protesters demanded that Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, come out and receive their memorandum herself.

After negotiations, the protesters agreed to allow the MMC to accept the memorandum on the metro’s behalf.

“Some operators indicated that their operating licences had expired, but that they were experiencing similar delays in legalising their operations, which, in turn, resulted in the impounding of their vehicles by the TMPD. In addition, some of those present at the meeting claimed to be unaware that they needed a licence to operate as e-hailers,” Mogale said.

Mogale said January 23 was to serve as another meeting between the metro and the e-hailing associations however they were informed of the march before it was meant to take place.

She added that the concerns of the drivers have been brought to the Crisis Committee on Operating Licences which she also sits on as a member and urged drivers to not allow themselves to be used for political gain.

“We urge e-hailers not to allow political parties to influence their cause. The TMPD has a legal mandate to carry out its by-law enforcement duties. The city acknowledges the struggles faced by e-hailers and we note their noble efforts to earn a living,” Mogale said.

Following Tshwane House, the protesters made their way to the Union Buildings, demanding President Cyril Ramaphosa accept their memorandum as well. A representative of the Office of the President accepted the memorandum on Ramaphosa’s behalf, promising a response in due course.

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