The Gauteng province is hopeful that a new digital system will help clear an operating-licence backlog dating back as far as 2009.
The province’s road and transport department launched the Gauteng public transport regulatory information system as it moves to digitise the processing of operating licences.
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MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said that the system had been tested over the past six to eight months, with input from e-hailing operators, the taxi industry, bus operators, municipalities and law enforcement.
E-hailing operators have taken priority, with many facing difficulties operating legally while waiting for the required licences.
“We are saying e-hailer operators should come forward now, to come and apply and regularise themselves. We have prioritised eradicating illegal operation of public transport services for many reasons. Among those is safety, the conflicts within the taxi industry or between the taxi industry and e-hailing operations,” said Diale-Tlabela.
As the new technology is being implemented, the province has called on public transport operators to embrace technology as the province looks to tackle challenges in the sector.
The digital platform aims to modernise the operating-licence system, improve regulatory compliance and speed up applications.
Gauteng roads and transport MEC said that innovation would be necessary if the province seeks to find better ways of addressing some of the challenges facing public transport.
“So, this is a system that we believe will eradicate backlog. We will no longer have people providing a public service with a receipt that is unlawful,” said the MEC.
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Anelitha Fandese
www.ewn.co.za
