Department finalising e-hailing companies' registration - announcement expected soon

The regulations introduced last year call for vehicle branding, more driver info for riders, a separate licensing category and panic buttons in all vehicles.

Department of Transport's Spokesperson Collen Msibi said there could be some truth to media reports that no companies had registered.

"The uptake was taking a bit longer but I also have good news that probably by the end of this month we're going to announce the companies that have registered. So we are in the process of finalising that. So we were quite worried at some point that they were not coming on board. I think you will remember in November or December where we issued a statement reminding them to come on board to register. The reason is it takes a while for them to comply. They have to go to ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) for instance to get some certification before they can come to the regulator in the department so that's why it's taking so long. But I can assure you there's companies that have come through now that are presenting to the regulator so we should be able to announce quite soon," Msibi said.

He was not prepared to say whether Uber and Bolt have already registered.

"Those are the most prominent companies in the country in terms of these apps so probably they could make the list but I'm not going to say at this stage."

Msibi explained that it's difficult now for an operator to get an e-hailing operating licence. "Because you don't have the name of the app that you are using because they are not registered as yet which is soon going to change. Those who've been operating without even the charter permits or the meter taxi operating licences - they will be found because now you can't operate without having this app which is registered.

"If you continue to do so, that's when the issue of the fine of R100,000 to the app company...So if the app company gives you permission to operate without you having been registered or having an operating licence, the company will be fined a hundred thousand or two years in jail.

So that's basically what you're trying to do, to get rid of people who are operating illegally.

To listen to Msibi's full discussion with Mandy Wiener, click the media player below: