WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA ENDS 13-YEAR WAIT BY LEGALISING RIDE-HAILING SERVICES
In a long anticipated development, South Africa President, Cyril Rama- phosa, has officially signed the amended National Land Transport Act (NTLA) into law. This pivotal decision opens the door for ride-hailing services, such as Uber and Bolt, to apply for operating licences, thereby formally acknowledging them as legitimate public transport operators. This amendment follows a 13-year effort to revise the existing act, which had not accounted for the emergence of ride-hailing services. Previously, these companies operated in a legal grey area, utilising charter permits and meter taxi operating licences that were not well-suited to their business model. Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga stated: “This Bill amends the NLT Act 2009 to bring it up to date with developments since its implementation. It simplifies various provisions, addresses problems that have arisen, and makes provisions for non-motorised and accessible transport.” She added, “The NLTA now reflects our commitment to a modern, inclusive, and efficient transport system.” These updates follow the Competition Commission’s 2020 report, which revealed 79% of ride-hailing oper- ators were providing services without valid licences, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory changes. The revised act abolishes the requirement for ride- hailing services to use outdated permits and licences. It also gives the Minister of Transport broader authority to establish regulations and safety protocols specifically for ride-hailing operations. Furthermore, the procedure for acquiring operating licences will be simplified. This change is anticipated to ease tensions between metered taxi drivers and ride-hailing drivers, who have previously been in conflict due to the absence of clear regulations governing both sectors. The revised act mandates tech providers to prevent unlicensed operators from using their platforms. Non- compliance with these regulations could result in
PHTM JULY 2024
fines reaching up to R100,000 (£4,300). Additionally, the legislation enhances passenger rights and complaint-handling procedures, ensuring a more secure and professional experience for ride- hailing users. “The bill aims to bolster regulations and empower Provincial Regulatory Entities to revoke or suspend operating licences if an operator breaches the National Land and Transport or Roads Act,” stated Former Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula. “It also addresses handling public complaints, passenger treatment, colour coding, and ensures that SAPS and metro police officers do not have business interests in public transport operations.” Furthermore, the bill fosters trust, especially as Bolt drivers have been implicated in numerous misconduct and security issues. This has resulted in the platform suspending over 6,000 drivers in the country for misconduct in the past six months.
from Hong Kong
HONG KONG TAXI LEFT HANGING OVER 5-METRE DROP AFTER CRASH
A Hong Kong taxi hit a female pedestrian and slammed into railings in Central on a recent Sunday morning, causing the woman to fall down a near- vertical drop and land on the street below while the vehicle was left balancing precariously over the edge above. Police arrested the 44-year-old cabbie on suspicion of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. The force said it received a report of a crash at around 10.40am, with a taxi hitting and damaging part of a four-metre-long railing and kerb on Lower Albert Road. The taxi was left balancing precariously with its front half hanging over Ice House Street and its rear wheels off the ground. The force said the 28-year-old foreign woman fell five metres from Lower Albert Road onto Ice House Street and hurt her right leg.
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