SA Law Finally Recognises E-Hailing – With New Rules for Safety and Accountability

After years of operating in a grey zone, e-hailing is now officially recognised in law. The Department of Transport has gazetted the National Land Transport Amendment Act, which sets safety, licensing and security requirements for platforms like Uber and Bolt. Among the new rules: every e-hailing vehicle must have a panic button, apps must be registered, and operators risk fines of up to R100-thousand or jail if they allow unlicensed drivers on their platforms. Phemelo speaks to the Transport Department’s Collen Msibi and Vhatuka Mbelengwa from the National E-hailing Federation of SA about what this means for commuters.