Santaco: Revised regulations needed to deal with ‘flood’ of e-hailing operators
The South African National Taxi Council says many e-hailing operators are operating without government-authorised permits, posing a serious threat to the safety of commuters.
The warning follows numerous reports of hijackings, abductions, sexual harassment, and other violent crimes linked to e-hailing operators.
Santaco’s Rebecca Phala says the delayed finalisation and implementation of the National Land Transport Act (NLTA) is to blame for the sector's lack of regulation.
The Act, which was initially submitted to the National Assembly in 2020, was turned back for reconsideration due to questions around its constitutionality.
It was, however, signed in 2024 by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“The current structure of e-hailing platforms does not enforce the requirement for these permits, leading to a flood of unregulated operators within the public transport space,” said Phala.
“This unrestrained influx is not only causing congestion in the sector but also posing serious safety threats to commuters.”
She said the sector's crisis would only deepen if the government failed to strictly implement the revised NLTA regulations.
ALSO READ:
