The South African Meter Taxi and e-hailing Association (SAMTEA) has called on metered taxi and e-hailing operators to join a pilot business support programme in Gauteng, aimed at helping them formalise and comply with the newly issued regulatory framework for app-based services.

SAMTEA is an affiliate of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO).

 “The initiative is aimed at supporting meter taxi and e-hailing operators who are seeking to strengthen business formalisation, regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability within South Africa’s evolving public transport system,” SAMTEA said in a statement this week.

The programme comes in the wake of regulations that recognising e-hailing as a legitimate mode of public transport in the country.

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 “As a result, operators are required to align their businesses with applicable regulatory, compliance, and governance standards,” SAMTEA said.

Competition over passengers and operating space between the minibus taxi industry and e-hailing drivers has periodically flared into intimidation and violence, including murder, in several cities, primarily from taxi operators.

In September, the department of transport gazetted amendments that formally introduced e-hailing services as a defined public-transport service type, alongside updated regulations intended to govern how the services operate.

Under SAMTEA’s pilot, eligible metered taxi and e-hailing operators will register through a JotForm link, and then receive assistance at designated offices, with the focus being on  administrative and compliance processes.

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The association said the support will cover regulatory and compliance readiness, business formalisation and documentation support, industry alignment and digitisation readiness, fleet modernisation preparedness, and pathways to funding and long-term sustainability.

The pilot will run in Gauteng on February 11, 12, 18 and 19, at designated SAMTEA offices.

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