Parliament passes bill to regulate e-hailing services

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The Bill passed on Wednesday, 25 April 2018, will further provide for and regulate electronic hailing services to enable operators to operate with an app as well as to empower the Minister to prescribe requirements, standards applicable and offences for the use of e-hailing technology-enabled applications

“The dispensation will ensure that we bring the much-needed stability between the metered taxi and the electronic hailing taxi industry, which was characterized by uncertainty, conflict and criminality,” Minister Nzimande said in a statement.

He said the amendments to the Act will ensure that government brings the South Africa transport trajectory in line with international best practice and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“It will further ensure that government consolidates systematically the transport function across the three spheres of government,” Minister Nzimande said.

The Bill follows protracted public participatory processes that commenced in 2016, when the department of transport introduced the initial amendments to the National Land Transport Act of 2009.

Minister Nzimande said that the Bill will now provide for temporary licences to be obtained “over the counter” by a shortened procedure from an official or a member of the regulatory entity delegated by that entity and a shortened process on application to replace a vehicle specified in the operating licence.

“We will further ensure that provinces are given an opportunity to conclude new contracts for public transport services in areas where municipalities do not comply with the prescribed requirements,” Minister Nzimande said.