South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed an amendment to South Africa’s National Land Transport Act which would allow transportation platforms like Uber and Bolt to obtain operating licenses.
What This Means
With the new amendment, the regulations will no longer require ride-hailing services to use charter permits and meter taxi operating licences in South Africa.
Between The Lines
The amendment also introduced stricter regulations, granting the transport minister broader powers to enforce safety standards and penalize non-compliant platforms.
The amendments create a new category of operating licences and require technology providers to prevent illegal operators from using their platforms, with an R100,000 ($5,428) penalty fee for noncompliance.
What They’re Saying
“The bill also seeks to strengthen regulations and empowers Provincial Regulatory Entities to withdraw or suspend operating license where an operator has contravened the National Land and Transport or the Roads Act,” said Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
“It further deals with issues of handling of public complaints and treatment of passengers; colour coding as well as ensuring that SAPS, metro police have not business interest in the operations of public transport.”
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