Transport minister Barbara Creecy has said that new regulations for e-hailing drivers in South Africa could be implemented within two months, once the National Land Transport Amendment Act (NLTA) is gazetted.
According to Mybroadband, the Act, approved in March 2025, is currently being translated into a second official language and is expected to be finalised by October.
It will introduce stricter requirements for these drivers, bringing them in line with existing rules for metered taxis.
Government to tighten rules amid rising taxi tensions
Under the new law, e-hailing drivers will be required to:
- Obtain operating licences tied to specific geographical areas.
- Hold a professional driving permit.
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Install panic buttons in vehicles for emergency response.
- Display branding or signs identifying them as e-hailing operators.
Creecy said the regulations aim to reduce violent clashes between e-hailing and taxi drivers, which have escalated in recent years.
Both the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and e-hailing associations have expressed support for the new law, which has been in development since 2016.
Creecy urged conventional taxi operators to embrace the changes.
“Taxi drivers are no different from the rest of us, and part of what everyone has to understand in the modern world is that you either change or you don’t survive,” Creecy said, as per Mybroadband.
Do you think these new laws will help with the issues between e-hailing and taxi drivers?
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