As part of ongoing efforts to clear the backlog and strengthen regulatory compliance in the public transport sector, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) has handed over 526 operating licences to compliant scholar transport and minibus taxi operators.
The handover ceremonies formed part of a broader provincial strategy to strengthen regulatory oversight, clear processing backlogs and establish an orderly and legally compliant public transport industry in Gauteng.
The licences were issued to public transport operators affiliated with various scholar transport and taxi associations across Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Sedibeng and the West Rand at ceremonies held in Johannesburg and Tshwane on 5 and 7 October 2026, respectively.
Since November last year, the department has processed, issued and handed over more than 8 000 operating licences to compliant minibus taxi and scholar transport operators across the province.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring that public transport operators, including those in the scholar transport and minibus taxi sectors, operate strictly within the law.
“We are committed to ensuring public transport operators do so legally. We have started issuing operating licences to minibus taxi and other operators across the province, and we will continue with these regular handover ceremonies covering all the regions of the province,” said the MEC.
Addressing the backlog, the MEC urged non-compliant operators awaiting their operating licences to engage directly with the department rather than rely on unverified channels.
“We are appealing to taxi operators who are not yet legal: kindly visit our offices, the Transport Operating Licensing Administrative Board (TOLABs), to either apply or verify your status. We want to assist so you become compliant and operate legally,” the MEC added.
She also encouraged operators who had not received their operating licences to check the status of their applications with the department.
“To those in possession of operating licences, kindly ensure you always carry the necessary documentation in your vehicle. As GDRT, we are in constant engagement with various traffic authorities to ensure that vehicles with valid documentation are not impounded for that reason, unless there are other contraventions of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA),” MEC Diale-Tlabela explained.
The department appealed to operators to collect their licences promptly from regional TOLAB offices once notified. It is estimated that more than 300 operating licences remain uncollected.
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