New laws for Uber in South Africa coming this week. Image: BusinessTech.
(The Post News)- The Department of Transport has confirmed that new laws regulating e-hailing services in South Africa will be implemented sooner than anticipated, with the official gazette set to be published on Friday, 12 September 2025.
This announcement comes just days after Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport indicated that the laws were expected to be gazetted “within two months,” likely in October.
Department of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi confirmed that the new laws governing e-hailing services in South Africa will be coming into effect tomorrow. “The Department will be gazetting the laws for implementation this Friday, ahead of the previously anticipated timeline. We understand the urgency around these issues and are fast-tracking the process to ensure safety and order in the transport sector,” said Msibi.
Msibi highlighted the ongoing e-hailing-taxi violence, saying that the incidents of “violence and harassment” the e-hailing drivers face cannot be ignored. He reported that these laws will create a framework that protects both operators and commuters while also addressing concerns from the broader transport industry.
New Laws for Uber, Bolt
The legislation in question will bring into force the National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act, which was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024. The Act aims to modernize and regulate the growing e-hailing industry, which has operated under ambiguous legal frameworks for over a decade.
One of the most notable changes is that e-hailing drivers will no longer be required to operate under charter permits or traditional meter taxi operating licenses. Instead, they will receive a dedicated e-hailing operating license. In addition, vehicles must display visible signage indicating they are used for e-hailing purposes, and the licenses issued will clearly outline the specific geographic areas in which the drivers are permitted to operate.
Further regulations will introduce stricter safety and vetting protocols. All e-hailing drivers will be required to undergo criminal background checks, hold a valid professional driving permit (PDP), and ensure that their profile photos are kept up to date on the respective platforms. Importantly, all e-hailing vehicles will be mandated to include a panic button to enhance safety for both drivers and passengers.
Portfolio Committee on Transport Approves the Laws
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Donald Selamolela, acknowledged the lengthy legislative process behind the Act, which took nearly ten years to finalize. “This legislation is about formalizing the e-hailing sector and making sure it meets the same professional and safety standards as other transport services. We also believe this will ease some of the tensions with the minibus taxi industry,” Selamolela stated.
The laws come with significant penalties for non-compliance. E-hailing drivers who fail to adhere to the new regulations could face fines of up to R100,000 or up to two years in prison. Authorities will also have the power to suspend or revoke licenses of drivers and operators who violate the provisions of the NLTA.
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