E-hailing industry welcomes new transport Act

The e-hailing industry has welcomed the signing of the National Land Transport Amendment Act by President Cyril Ramaphosa. A Saturday Star report says the signing of the Act brought long-awaited clarity and formal recognition to e-hailing services. InDrive’s Ashif Black said the company was elated, adding that the law not only clarified how businesses should operate but also reinforced the commitment to safety and reliability for e-hailing users. ‘The legislation goes beyond just e-hailing. The Economic Regulation of Transport Bill aims to establish a Transport Economic Regulator tasked with regulating fares, investigating complaints, and overseeing compliance across the entire transport sector,’ Black said. However, the report says questions remain. How will the new regulations affect pricing for users? Will drivers see a positive impact on their earnings? The industry awaits detailed guidelines to understand the full scope of the changes. ‘We are ready to collaborate with national, provincial, and local authorities to facilitate compliance and support the rollout,’ Black said. The signing of the Act will see the introduction of compulsory operating licences for e-hailing drivers and will ensure that the service is brought in line with the evolving digital economy.