Operators urged to regularise their businesses
Gauteng is stepping up its drive to bring minibus taxi and other public transport operators into the legal system, with the provincial Department of Roads and Transport urging those without valid operating licences to apply or confirm the progress of existing applications.
The appeal follows the issuing of 529 operating licences to transport operators across all five regions of Gauteng. The handovers were aimed at improving regulatory compliance and strengthening passenger safety in a sector that carries large numbers of commuters every day.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said operators who were still not legally authorised to operate should approach the department rather than continue with unresolved applications or uncertain licensing status.
“We are appealing to taxi operators who are not yet operating legally to visit our offices to apply for operating licences or verify the status of their applications.”
The department said the licences were handed over during a two-day programme held at its head office and at its Tshwane regional offices in Koedoespoort. The beneficiaries included compliant minibus taxi operators and other public transport providers.
Weekly handovers planned
The latest handover forms part of a wider provincial effort to improve oversight of the public transport industry, speed up the processing of applications and tackle the outstanding licensing backlog. Officials said the programme is also intended to ensure operators conduct their businesses in line with the law.
Diale-Tlabela said the department would continue issuing licences through weekly handover programmes, with future activities reaching different parts of the province. The approach is intended to give compliant operators access to the documents they need while allowing officials to address applications that remain unresolved.
“We have started issuing operating licences to taxi and other public transport operators across the province, and we will continue with these weekly handover programmes, reaching different regions of Gauteng.”
For operators, the department’s message is direct: those who are not yet operating legally should engage its offices to establish whether an application has been lodged, whether further action is required, or whether a new application must be submitted.
What the announcement means
- 529 licences were handed over to transport operators.
- The beneficiaries came from all five regions of Gauteng.
- The handovers covered minibus taxis and other public transport operators.
- Operators without legal authority were urged to apply or verify their application status.
- The department plans to continue with weekly licence handovers in different regions.
The licensing process is a key part of the province’s regulatory framework for public transport. A valid operating licence provides formal recognition for an operator’s business and allows the authorities to monitor whether services are being provided within the applicable legal requirements.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Licences handed over | 529 |
| Area covered | All five Gauteng regions |
| Handover venues | Department head office and Tshwane regional offices in Koedoespoort |
| Next steps | Weekly handovers and engagement on outstanding applications |
The department said the initiative is not limited to issuing documents. It is also designed to improve regulatory control over the industry and support safer passenger transport by encouraging operators to work within the established system.
Operators whose applications are still outstanding have been encouraged to verify their status directly with the department. This is particularly important for applicants who may be unsure whether their paperwork has been processed, remains in the backlog or requires attention before a licence can be issued.
The provincial government has presented the continuing handovers as progress in reducing that backlog and bringing more public transport businesses into compliance. For commuters, the department’s stated objective is a more formally regulated sector in which operators meet the required standards and passenger safety remains a central consideration.
Diale-Tlabela said the licensing drive would continue, signalling that the department intends to maintain pressure on both the backlog and illegal operations. Operators are therefore being urged to use the department’s offices to apply for the necessary authority or confirm where their existing applications stand.
