Gauteng hands over 529 licences and sets a weekly schedule
PRETORIA — Gauteng will hold weekly operating licence handovers in different regions after delivering 529 licences to minibus taxi and other public transport operators. Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the province was working through a backlog while trying to shorten the time it takes to process applications. The latest handover covered operators from all five Gauteng regions.
From approval to collection
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport distributed the licences over two days at its head office and its Tshwane regional offices in Koedoespoort, reported on 1 November. Operators need a valid operating licence to carry passengers for a fare. For those whose applications have been approved, collecting the document is the final step in that process.
An earlier collection drive shows why the department is holding handovers in person. In August, it sent SMS reminders and worked through taxi associations and scholar transport operators to reach applicants. Operators collected 211 licences during that round, but 108 remained uncollected at the deadline. The department said those licences would be considered for cancellation under the applicable administrative procedures.
A separate effort to shorten the wait
The province is also changing how it handles applications before licences are ready for collection. On 6 October, it launched the Gauteng Public Transport Regulatory Information System in Tshwane. Diale-Tlabela said the digital system was intended to reduce administrative delays and make licensing services easier for operators to access.
By 8 October, the department had reported handing over more than 8,000 licences to minibus taxi and scholar transport operators since November 2025. For operators still waiting, the practical next step depends on the status of their application. The department has previously advised those who missed a handover to contact the licensing office where they applied to check whether their document is ready and arrange collection.
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