MEDIA STATEMENT
13 August 2025

Pretoria – The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) is deeply concerned about the continued illegality and lack of regulation in the e-hailing services sector. This situation stems from the delay in finalizing and implementing the amended National Land Transport Act (NLTA) regulations, more than a year after the Act was amended in May 2024.

This regulatory vacuum has created an environment where many e-hailing operators are operating without government-authorized permits. The current structure of e-hailing platforms does not enforce the requirement for these permits, leading to a flood of unregulated operators within the public transport space.

This unrestrained influx is not only causing congestion in the sector but also posing serious safety threats to commuters. There has been a disturbing rise in reports of hijackings, abductions, sexual harassment, and other violent crimes, all linked to the unchecked operation of e-hailing services under the current legal loopholes.

As the apex body representing various modes of public transport in South Africa, SANTACO cannot remain silent. We strongly urge the government to expedite the implementation of the revised NLTA regulations and tighten enforcement mechanisms to protect both operators and passengers.

Failure to act swiftly will only deepen the crisis in the public transport sector and further compromise commuter safety. The time for decisive action is now.

For Media Enquiries:
Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala
📧 rphala@santaco.org