Johannesburg:The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has issued 526 operating licences to compliant scholar transport and minibus taxi operators as part of efforts to reduce backlogs and ensure regulatory compliance in the public transport sector.
According to South African Government News Agency, the licence handovers are part of a larger provincial strategy aimed at enhancing regulatory oversight and creating an organized and legally compliant public transportation industry. The licences were distributed to operators affiliated with various transport associations in regions including Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Sedibeng, and the West Rand during ceremonies in Johannesburg and Tshwane on October 5 and 7, 2026.
Since November of the previous year, the department has processed and issued over 8,000 operating licences to compliant operators across Gauteng. MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring that all public transport operators, particularly those in the scholar transport and minibus taxi sectors, operate legally.
The MEC encouraged operators awaiting licences to engage directly with the department instead of relying on unofficial sources. Operators were urged to visit the Transport Operating Licensing Administrative Board offices to apply or verify their status to become compliant.
Diale-Tlabela also advised those who have already received their licences to always carry the necessary documentation in their vehicles. She assured that the department is working with traffic authorities to prevent vehicles with valid documentation from being impounded unless other violations occur.
The department has appealed to operators to promptly collect their licences from regional offices once notified, noting that more than 300 licences remain uncollected.