Uber drivers in South Africa to get specialised licenses following govt recognition

Uber and Bolt drivers in South Africa will now be operating with proper e-hailing licences, as new transport laws take effect on Friday, 12 September 2025. The Department of Transport has affirmed that the National Land Transport Amendment (NLTA) Act will start applying from that date, regulating e-hailing drivers for the first time.

The law replaces the use of charter permits and meter taxi licences which were used by e-hailing drivers. The drivers will be given an e-hailing operating license that legally acknowledges their enterprise. The reforms also include other safety, security, and compliance requirements for the drivers and the platforms they use.

What the new law means for drivers

The NLTA laws will require all Uber and Bolt drivers now required to have an official license showing where they can operate. Each vehicle will also be displaying a visible marker showing that it is licensed for e-hailing, making it simpler for commuters and law enforcement officers to identify approved vehicles.

The drivers also have to meet a list of requirements before they qualify for the license. They include:

A driving professional license issued by the authorities.

A criminal check-up before approval. An ID matching profile picture, to be uploaded on the platform at all times.

An operational panic button in the vehicle, in case of emergencies.

The Transport Department also said that operators that fail to adhere to these standards risk serious consequences. These include fines of up to R100,000 or two-year prison terms for serious offenses. The regulators are also entitled to suspend or revoke licences where drivers or companies breach the regulations.

See also: South African e-hailing union condemns black market sale of operating licenses

The new system will improve the safety of passengers and foster increased responsibility in the industry. Through giving clear standards, the government has laid down one framework for the management of e-hailing operators in provinces and cities.

Recognition of South Africa’s e-hailing industry

The issuance of official e-hailing permits follows several decades of altercations between established cab operators and e-hailing drivers, especially in locations like Soweto and KwaZulu-Natal. Violence was used in clashes, and fights over routes and passengers followed to bring into question the lack of a legal environment for app-based transportation services regulation.

With the law now in effect, e-hailing is officially integrated into the transport system of South Africa. Uber and Bolt drivers will have to obtain the licenses at municipal or provincial offices. The licenses will indicate in which regions they will operate, making it easier to monitor and preventing them from coming into conflict with other operators. The Act also gives powers to authorities to inspect compliance more.

Transport regulators and police will be authorised to ask for proof of a license at the roadside, while the platforms will be required to make sure that their drivers comply with all the requirements of the law. For drivers, the act includes extra protection. Visible car branding and panic buttons are designed to improve the confidence and security of passengers. Criminal checks and professional permits will also reduce risks by ensuring that only trained drivers are driving.

The NLTA has been contentious for close to a decade. After several years of controversy and input by business associations, it was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024. Its speedy implementation this month is the government’s step towards stabilising the sector and reducing tensions. Transport authorities believe that the new law will also ease future planning for mobility.

In bringing Uber, Bolt, and other app services to the same level as traditional transport operators, the government has created space for proper regulation, safety improvement, and more cooperation between industries. As South Africa officially approves e-hailing services, Uber and Bolt drivers are entering a new era of business. The law marks a breakthrough for the industry, one that brings certainty to operators, boosts passenger safety, and makes e-hailing part of the country’s transport system.