E-hailing drivers protest over operating permits

E-hailing taxi operators are protesting at Wespark in Pretoria over issues including the impounding of their vehicles and operating permits.

The operators will drive in a convoy to the City of Tshwane’s headquarters and the Union Buildings.

“Our main concern today is the impoundment of our cars. Our cars are being impounded daily; if they are impounded, they ask you to pay R6 000. The Department of Transport does not want to issue the permits that they say they want, but they continue impounding our cars. So, we are paying R6 000 to comply for something that they don’t give us,” says the President of the E-hailing Association in Pretoria West, Wandisile Rala.

E-hailing operators making their way to Tshwane house – protesting over the impounding of the vehicle permits and the challenge to get operating permits #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/he2t829ZHw

— Pearl Magubane (@Pearl_Magubane) January 23, 2025

Meanwhile, Build One South Africa is calling for government to address the challenges raised by the e-hailing operators.

❗️[Media Statement]❗️ E-hailing Driver Permits: Drivers cannot obtain these permits as the national government has halted all e-hailing application processes and failed to issue permits to applicants who applied before the suspension, citing a backlog in processing#BuildOneSA pic.twitter.com/QZZ5m6MnWb

— BOSA (@BuildOneSA) January 23, 2025

Standing in solidarity with e-hailing drivers who want to comply but are being prevented from doing so by government incompetence!

Don’t criminalise drivers who wish to obey the law!

Fix your permit application processes before you demand permits from drivers! pic.twitter.com/7dFr97sZQ7

— Ayanda Allie (@AyandaAllie) January 23, 2025