Big changes coming for Bolt and Uber

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Big changes coming for Bolt and Uber

Transport minister Barbara Creecy says laws imposing various new requirements on e-hailing operators and drivers in South Africa could be gazetted within two months.

Creecy told the Sunday Times that the National Land Transport Amendment Act (NLTA) was being translated into a second official language following her approval of the legislation in March 2025.

 

[now05ster]

Creecy believes these rules will cool rising tensions between e-hailing and taxi drivers, which has become a major issue for the industry.

Will it, though?

 

[dontcryforme]

Will it, though?

Just as much AARTO made them drive on the correct side of the road

 

[stefan9]

Will the taxi drivers also be under going these criminal back ground checks

 

[Exaelea]

All it will do is mark clearly/easily which cars they will burn

 

[now05ster]

All it will do is mark clearly/easily which cars they will burn

As well as make them easy targets for criminals. There's a reason why many drivers remove their phone holders when they are in high crime areas where these drivers are targeted.

 

[dontcryforme]

Will the taxi drivers also be under going these criminal back ground checks

Taxi drivers usually get on the job training for that

 

[neoprema]

I think Barbs is sporting a new Range Rover gifted to her by the Taxi association...

 

[Swa]

Creecy believes these rules will cool rising tensions between e-hailing and taxi drivers, which has become a major issue for the industry.

How about we impose these rules on the lawless minibus taxi industry?

 

[now05ster]

How about we impose these rules on the lawless minibus taxi industry?

Kom, gaan slaap nou. You're not making sense now.

 

[neoprema]

This mandatory panic button is it provided by Uber and Bolt, or is it going to require them to - conveniently - support a local company setting up virtual panic buttons?

 

[now05ster]

This mandatory panic button is it provided by Uber and Bolt, or is it going to require them to - conveniently - support a local company setting up virtual panic buttons?

Local is lekker™

 

[raboob69]

I’m currently an uber driver, and in order to activate my account I had to do everything they saying is going to be mandatory, criminal check, pdp license, operating license for Gauteng, a full Dekra report on my car; and it couldn’t be older then 4 years. And because uber also requires business insurance on your car, the insurance company forced me to have tracker with a panic button installed. Uber is already following these guidelines, its bolt that is the problem.

 

[Quicks]

Always targeting the wrong people, great if they do this. But we need safer roads from the taxi mafia!

 

[Zellephant]

The taxi industry proving once more that all it takes to get exactly what you want in South Africa is to burn some stuff down, shoot some people and generally intimidate the population enough.

It would seem the rest of South Africa are slow learners. These guys have been using these tactics with great success for decades

 

[Bad Ballie]

Will it, though?

Highly unlikely, in all probability it will just make them bigger targets as they will be easier to identify.

 

[Hemi300c]

They must also obtain a professional driving permit, pass a criminal background check, and fit their vehicles with panic buttons for quick emergency response. And who will be responding.............This as usual is pointless as the taxi ass is the only enemy of these business's and everyone knows the taxi industry are untouchable and feared by all "empowered" to manage and control them. So basically just saying shyte to look concerned as always the anc just spew shyte and promises.

Furthermore, e-hailing vehicles must be branded or carry a sign that shows they are from an e-hailing service. Mmmmm nice this will make them clearer targets.

 

[Randomwasavailable]

Will the taxi drivers also be under going these criminal back ground checks

Exactly. Do taxi drivers even have passenger indemnity cover and insurance? Perhaps they should start with the important things, a novel thought in South Africa.

 

[Swa]

I’m currently an uber driver, and in order to activate my account I had to do everything they saying is going to be mandatory, criminal check, pdp license, operating license for Gauteng, a full Dekra report on my car; and it couldn’t be older then 4 years. And because uber also requires business insurance on your car, the insurance company forced me to have tracker with a panic button installed. Uber is already following these guidelines, its bolt that is the problem.

I know both actually have such systems in place, the bigger issue is drivers being impersonated.

But as usual the government response is completely on the wrong end of the stick. The taxi industry is the biggest mafia in this country but instead of regulating it and putting these safety measures in place on it they go to those being intimidated and attacked and say let everyone know who you are, as if that will stop any of it. It shows where the loyalty and cadre ties are.

 

[Swa]

They must also obtain a professional driving permit, pass a criminal background check, and fit their vehicles with panic buttons for quick emergency response. And who will be responding.............This as usual is pointless as the taxi ass is the only enemy of these business's and everyone knows the taxi industry are untouchable and feared by all "empowered" to manage and control them. So basically just saying shyte to look concerned as always the anc just spew shyte and promises.

Furthermore, e-hailing vehicles must be branded or carry a sign that shows they are from an e-hailing service. Mmmmm nice this will make them clearer targets.

I say before any of these regulations are put in place there should be a detailed audit of every minister, department head, their families, extended family and friends to see who has ties to the taxi industry.