NEW UBER AND BOLT REGULATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Department of Transport has officially introduced new regulations that will change how e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt operate in South Africa.

Effective 12 September 2025, all e-hailing vehicles will be required to display clear company branding, a move aimed at improving safety, service quality, and reducing tensions with traditional taxi operators.

Under the new rules, e-hailing drivers must:
• Obtain official operating licenses from provincial regulators, replacing previous charter or metered taxi permits.
• Brand their vehicles with the company’s logo.
• Install panic buttons to allow rapid response during emergencies.
• Undergo criminal background checks.
• Hold valid, up-to-date professional driving permits.

Failure to comply could result in fines of up to R100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.

The Department of Transport stressed that the regulations are designed to clamp down on illegal operations, unregistered drivers, and to foster peaceful coexistence between e-hailing and traditional taxi services.

The rollout of these measures is seen as a major step towards the formalization of the e-hailing industry in South Africa, bringing it in line with national transport standards.