Bolt and WANATU have secured their e-hailing operator licences ahead of South Africa’s March 11 deadline, clearing a key hurdle inside the nation’s first extreme attempt to management its e-hailing commerce.
In an announcement shared with TechCabal, Bolt acknowledged it obtained its Certificates of Registration from the Nationwide Public Transport Regulator (NPTR) on February 27.
“Receiving the Certificates of Registration from the NPTR is a crucial milestone not only for Bolt, nonetheless for the broader e-hailing commerce, as a result of it strengthens perception and enhances safety for every driver operators and passengers,” acknowledged Fikile Nzuza-Chunga, senior public protection supervisor for Bolt South Africa.
WANATU moreover confirmed its licence in an announcement, saying it “effectively achieved the entire NPTR registration course of beneath the model new guidelines.”
South Africa’s amended Nationwide Land Transport Act took influence on September 12, 2025, giving the commerce 180 days to adapt. Nonetheless the 1000’s of drivers who work beneath ride-hailing platforms can’t apply for his or her very personal permits until the platforms are first licenced, and with one week left, most haven’t started.
“The Western Cape authorities suggested us they’d look ahead to the apps to register sooner than issuing driver permits,” Siyabonga Hlabisa, chairperson of the Western Cape E-hailing Affiliation (WCEA), acknowledged. “That timeline can’t be used as a troublesome deadline.”
Concern on the streets
The delay creates a safety hazard for drivers working in South Africa’s e-hailing sector, which has a protracted, violent historic previous of battle with the R90-billion (over $5 billion)taxi commerce. Typical taxi operators sometimes view e-hailing as illegal, leading to intimidation and driver damage.
“The rollout seems to be snail-paced., I’m panicking,” acknowledged Dalitso, a Johannesburg Uber driver. “If the deadline passes and I don’t have a permit, we’d face wars with the taxis.”
Division of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi admitted the registration course of is slower than anticipated. He expects to announce the entire guidelines of licenced firms by the tip of March.
Nonetheless, the announcement of licenced platforms will probably overlap with the March 11 deadline, leaving drivers no time to finish their very personal functions.
“Many individuals nonetheless haven’t obtained the metered-taxi permits. I’m not really sure how these new permits will work out, with the sooner backlog and given the non-compliance advantageous,” acknowledged Prince, a Bolt driver in Pretoria.
Non-compliance might end in penalties of as a lot as R100 000 ($5,700).
The Division of Transport didn’t reply to a request for comment.
Whereas Bolt and WANATU have secured their licences, Uber, with over 40,000 driver-partners, confirmed it has utilized for its licence nonetheless has however to acquire approval.
“We’ve submitted our utility for registration as an e-hailing platform provider and are taking part constructively with the associated authorities to ensure compliance,” Uber suggested TechCabal.
With out an official extension or a faster provincial rollout for driver permits, the transition window supposed to hold order might instead set off a latest wave of battle and monetary instability. Nonetheless for now, when drivers get their permits, the Division of Transport sticks to its strict timeline or adjusts to the very fact on the underside.
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