After a 13-year wait for official public transport regulation, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the NLTA 5 of 2009, which would regulate and monitor the public transport sector in a unified framework.
According to Rebecca Phala, a spokesperson for Santaco, the amendment bill’s regulations would bring peace to the streets, which are frequently characterised by constant violence between the operators of minibus taxis, metered taxis, and e-hailing services.
Phala said the introduction of internationally-based ride-hailing services caused disorder in the public transport space as these services have eaten into the revenue of the minibus and metered taxi industries.
Santaco gives thumbs up
“The manner in which the mode was introduced was clumsily handled and has led to the loss of income from operators and the greater sector, with the majority of the profits benefiting foreign-owned app developers at the expense of ordinary South Africans with valid operating licences and families to feed,” said Phala.
She said Santaco looked forward to the regulations and analysing how they would be implemented.
According to Phala, it was rather curious that it took more than a decade for the NLTA to be signed, but she said this has brought a sense of relief to the industry.
“The lengthy period it took to get the bill signed got us weary and led to unfortunate clashes and the infiltration of criminality into our daily operations, and so we welcome that there has been some movement in that regard,” Phala said.
She said that with the NLTA signed, it was time that the government created greener pastures for SA-based e-hailing platforms.
This, according to her, would maximise the economic independence of the public transport sector.
E-hailing operating licences
Ndabezinhle Khoza, the chairperson of the e-hailing association Sarideha, said the association also believes that the amendment bill would create a conducive environment in the public transport industry.
He said the Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, should also regulate e-hailing fares in a manner that would see competition between e-hailing services and minibus taxis.
“The third aspect has to be compliance from all stakeholders in terms of allowing each other to operate free from harassment and extortion and the police to take charge and assist in opening cases of harassment, extortion, and hijacking that are prevalent,” Khoza said.
“That way, order will be maintained. I think Santaco has failed to engage with the foreign apps, hence the statement.
“So, if the app is local, there can be consequences if they don’t comply, like a foreign app, which might create a new problem again of minibus taxis meddling in the space of e-hailing.”
He said it was important, at this stage, that the municipalities speed up the process of issuing e-hailing operating permits to differentiate their operations from metered taxis.
Regulating the industry
Chikunga confirmed that the department has been developing regulations for the finalisation of the NLTA amendment bill.
She also confirmed that the NLTA would accommodate e-hailing services and regulate the transport industry.
“It also enhances the roles of provinces and municipalities in public transport service contracts and expands the minister’s powers to implement regulations and safety measures, as well as streamline administrative arrangements for operating licences,” said Chikunga.
“Furthermore, it amends other transport-related legislation to bring it into line with the NLTA.”
