The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) has temporarily suspended three specific requirements on the Gauteng Public Transport Regulatory Information System (GPTRIS) for six months, a move the department said was intended to allow for stakeholder consultation and awareness ahead of fuller implementation.
What has been suspended — and for how long
The department announced a grace period that runs until 30 April 2027. During this time, Transport Operating Licence Administration Boards (TOLABs) have been directed to process applications for public transport operating licences without insisting on the following three items:
- Police Clearance Certificates — previously required from applicants seeking public transport operating licences.
- Labour Law Compliance Undertaking — a formal undertaking to comply with the Labour Relations Act.
- Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) — specifically for applicants who are licence owners or businesses that do not personally drive public transport vehicles.
Why the change was made
The GDRT said the temporary suspension responds to concerns raised by a range of public transport stakeholders, including scholar transport providers, metered taxi operators, e-hailing services and representatives of the minibus taxi sector such as the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco). Those groups requested more time for consultation and awareness before the new automated licensing system takes full effect.
According to the department, the representations focused on practical and operational difficulties that could result from immediately enforcing the three GPTRIS requirements, particularly among smaller operators and owner-operators who may not be familiar with the new digital processes.
"It does not constitute a general suspension of any other statutory, regulatory or administrative requirements," the department said, clarifying that only the three specified requirements were affected.
How TOLABs are to operate during the grace period
TOLABs across Gauteng have been instructed to continue to facilitate, consider and process applications for public transport operating licences, but without requiring applicants to submit the three temporarily suspended items. The department emphasised the limited scope of the suspension and warned that it will lapse after the stated date.
| Requirement | Status during grace period | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Police Clearance Certificate | Temporarily not required | 30 April 2027 |
| Labour Law Compliance Undertaking | Temporarily not required | 30 April 2027 |
| PrDP for non-driving owners | Temporarily not required | 30 April 2027 |
Who this affects and practical considerations
The suspension directly affects those applying for transport operating licences via GPTRIS — a category that spans formal operators and small-scale owners in Gauteng’s public transport sector. Scholar transport operators and e-hailing services said earlier that immediate enforcement could result in delays or exclusion of informal and small operators from the licencing process.
Operators should note that the suspension does not remove any other statutory requirements for licensing and that other documents and checks required by law remain in place. Applicants are therefore advised to keep their other paperwork up to date and to engage with their local TOLAB for guidance on submissions under GPTRIS during the grace period.
The department’s decision signals an attempt to balance the roll-out of an automated licensing system with practical realities on the ground. Stakeholders who sought the suspension will have until the end of April to participate in the consultations the GDRT has indicated are forthcoming.
After 30 April 2027 the temporary suspension will no longer be valid and the three requirements are expected to be enforced unless the department announces further changes.
Operators with questions about the application process or required documents are encouraged to consult their nearest TOLAB or the Gauteng transport department’s public information channels for updates.
Lerato Nkanyiso, Correspondent — Gauteng
