Uber could be operating illegally in South Africa
South Africa’s dominant e-hailing platform Uber has effectively been operating illegally in the country for nearly two months.
As of Thursday, 7 May 2026, the company had not yet confirmed that it had obtained a Certificate of Registration from the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR).
The National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act, which was gazetted in September 2025, formally recognised the e-hailing sector and introduced registration requirements for its operators and drivers.
From the gazetting of the new laws, e-hailing operators were given a 180-day grace period to apply for and obtain a Certificate of Registration.
E-hailing platforms are required to meet statutory compliance standards and align their operations with prescribed safety, governance, and accountability requirements.
Among the mandatory requirements are that vehicles must be branded and fitted with panic buttons for emergencies. Drivers themselves must also register for an operating permit.
The Department of Transport previously warned that failing to register would carry severe consequences, including rendering drivers who continue to operate for Uber “automatically illegal.”
There has been no official and gazetted extension of the deadline, meaning that any platform that had not complied by 11 March 2026 is effectively operating illegally.
Drivers on unregistered platforms are also unable to apply for their own operating licences until their relevant platform is registered.
Transport department spokesperson Collen Msibi previously said that “modalities to grant a further grace period” were being considered.
More recently, Msibi told MyBroadband a pronouncement would be made on this matter in the department’s budget speech on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
It is unclear on what basis the extension could be justified, particularly given that several other e-hailing operators successfully registered.
The Act stated that any platform not registered by 11 March 2026 was operating outside the law. The transport department has reiterated this view on multiple occasions.
Uber said it submitted its application “well before” the deadline, but the NPTR had not yet finalised its registration by the deadline.
Elaborate 7-step process
However, the Act requires that registration must be completed by the end of the grace period, meaning operators should be in possession of a registration certificate.
The registration process is elaborate and involves seven steps:
- Submission of Application
The registering party submits Form 9A to the NPTR via hand delivery, email, or post, including required supporting documentation. - Verification
NPTR officials verify the completeness of the application, authenticate documents and certificates, including Tax Compliance Status, and issue a receipt. - Publish Notice of Application
A notice of the application is published in the Government Gazette, as well as the NPTR’s notice board and website, providing 14 days for the public to comment on the application. - Preparation for Adjudication
The NPTR secretariat compiles the application, checks for any outstanding items, and prepares the agenda for a committee meeting on a First In, First Out basis. - Demonstration and Adjudication
The applicant must demonstrate the app’s functionality, including mandatory safety features and compliance with the NPTR Committee. - Registration and Certificate Issue
If approved by the NPTR, the platform provider is registered, and a registration certificate is issued to the applicant. - Notification to Provincial Regulatory Entities
The NPTR notifies all provincial authorities (PREs) that the platform is officially registered, allowing operators to apply for operating licenses.
At the time of publication, there appeared to be no gazette confirming Uber’s application, which is step 3 in the process.
If the process had not advanced to that stage, it could suggest that Uber’s application was submitted much closer to the deadline than those of e-hailing operators that had received certificates on time.
Uber’s primary rival — Bolt — submitted its application in November 2025, two months after the NLTA Act came into effect. It received its registration certificate on 27 February 2026.
The first company to obtain a certificate — Pretoria-based Wanatu — was the first to be approved and received its registration certificate on 12 February.
The department has also confirmed backlogs in the processing of applications. If the issue causing the delay were beyond Uber’s control, taking action against the company could result in legal action.
The NLTA Act prescribed specific timelines for processing applications. It required that members of the regulator meet frequently to ensure that applications are processed within 60 days of receipt.
If the department or relevant law enforcement officials issued fines against Uber for non-compliance, the company might challenge those actions in court.
MyBroadband asked Uber for an update on the progress of its application, but it did not provide feedback by the time of publication.
Loading ...