E-hailing operators and app providers in Tshwane and across the province have been urged to ensure their platforms are legally registered, as the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport moves to strengthen compliance and safety within the province’s public transport sector.

Departmental spokesperson Melitah Madiba said the move aligns with Section 66(A) of the National Land Transport Amendment Act, 2009.

“This act requires all e-hailing platform providers to register their digital applications with the National Department of Transport through the National Public Transport Regulator before applying for any provincial operating licences.”

Madiba explained the registration is part of the department’s broader effort to implement the amended act and new e-hailing regulations, ensuring alignment between national and provincial frameworks.

“This initiative aims to foster a safe, accessible, transparent, and compliant public transport environment across Gauteng. The growth of the e-hailing service in Gauteng has been significant, offering valuable mobility options and creating economic opportunities for thousands of operators,” she said.

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

Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said current regulations offer an opportunity to realign the system with national legislation, ensuring all e-hailing platform providers and operators meet legal requirements and regulatory standards.

“We therefore call upon all app companies operating in Gauteng to work with us by submitting their registrations and helping us build an accountable, efficient, and lawful public transport system,” said Diale-Tlabela.

E-hailing app providers are instructed to visit the National Department of Transport offices at 159 Struben Street, Forum Building, Pretoria, to register their digital platforms and finalise all other legislated requirements, including voluntary agreements that will allow the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity (GPRE) to receive and process their operating licence applications.

Madiba confirmed the GPRE will convene meetings across the province to provide further guidance and ensure app providers and e-hailing operators understand and comply with the regulations.

This call to register comes after Diale-Tlabela confirmed last week that significant progress has been made in resolving the backlog of operating licences across all public transport sectors, including taxis, e-hailing, scholar transport, buses, and metered taxis.

Since September, over 350 operating licences have been issued, more than 5 000 applications approved, and over 2 200 sent for adjudication.

The Provincial Public Transport Crisis Committee, chaired by the MEC, was initially focused on the minibus taxi industry, but has since expanded to include all affected transport modes, including e-hailing.

The committee, which includes representatives from the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance, SANTACO Gauteng, and the GPRE, has worked to verify applications, clean up the public transport database, and minimise disputes within the sector.

Diale-Tlabela highlighted that this inclusive approach has fostered co-operation among transport stakeholders and accelerated progress in processing applications.

At the time, she said the work of the committee has paved the way for implementing the amended Land Transport legislation and the new e-hailing regulations promulgated by the Minister of Transport in September.

“The new, technology-driven operating licensing system will be a game-changer for Gauteng’s public transport sector, streamlining applications, strengthening data integrity, and improving service delivery for all.”

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