JOHANNESBURG — Gauteng transport operators are being urgently advised to collect more than 400 uncollected operating licenses currently held by the provincial department, with MEC of Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela warning that failure to claim these documents could result in permit cancellation and subsequent illegal operation status.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and Housing has been grappling with a historical backlog of license applications dating back to 2009. According to MEC Diale-Tlabela, the department has successfully worked around the clock to fix the systemic issues that caused these delays. However, a new challenge has emerged: operators are not coming forward to retrieve their approved licenses.
To protect operators from being penalized for the department’s historical delays, an amnesty has been in place. This allows applicants to operate legally using their Operating License Application (OLA) receipts as temporary proof of compliance while awaiting the final document. However, this grace period is not indefinite.
By law, operating licenses must be collected within 90 days of issuance. While the department is currently granting extensions to maximize compliance and ensure everyone operates legally, the window will eventually close. Once the permits are officially canceled, any continued operation will be deemed illegal, exposing drivers to law enforcement action.
MEC Diale-Tlabela highlighted that the reasons for non-collection vary significantly. During recent departmental roadshows, including a visit to the Greater Albert Association, officials discovered that some licenses could not be handed over because the original owners are deceased, and their beneficiaries are unaware of the pending permits. Other applicants are unreachable due to outdated or incorrect contact details, or because they have relocated to rural areas in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
The department is actively collaborating with various transport associations to help track down the rightful owners or beneficiaries of these permits. MEC Diale-Tlabela emphasized that an operating license is not merely a regulatory document, but a vital economic tool that creates jobs and drives provincial economic growth.
While the majority of the uncollected licenses belong to the minibus taxi industry, the MEC issued a specific warning to scholar transport operators. Those who are subcontracted or directly contracted with the government cannot legally operate or receive state payments without a valid, finalized operating license. The department has provided ample opportunity for these operators to regularize their status, and officials are urging all applicants to proactively check with departmental centers to see if their names are among the 400 awaiting collection.
Transport operators who have applied for licenses are encouraged to contact their nearest Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and Housing center immediately to verify their status and secure their permits before the extension period concludes.
