Explore the roadways by finding reliable information about transport permits
The South African road transport sector including the taxi, bus and cargo transportation industries contributes massively to the economy, and to our way of life. In this sector, the ‘people-movers’, namely taxis and buses that transport public passengers for reward must apply for Road Carrier Permits. This is in addition to holding their respective operating licenses.
The National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009 (NLTA) regulates and monitors the transportation of public passengers for reward. The Act does not apply to the transportation of goods or to the transportation of passengers when no fee is charged for transportation services. The NLTA applies to any person who provides a public transportation service in and across the borders of South Africa.
Public Road Carrier Permits
The Act requires all public transportation services for reward to apply for Road Carrier Permits. Such a service may include minibus taxis, buses, contract services, metered taxis, special events transport, tourism-based transport services, and chartered services.
Road Carrier Permits are issued to vehicles which intend to transport passengers, such as buses with a capacity for more than 35 people, taxis, charter services, and other vehicles with the ability to carry more than nine passengers. Road Carrier Permits must also make known the route intended for the vehicle. Once the application for such a permit is successful, it is gazetted.
South African Government Gazettes on Sabinet Discover is the perfect place to find these successfully gazetted permits. If you want to know which permits have been issued, for which routes and, in which provinces, then Sabinet Discover is an easy way to find the information swiftly and effortlessly.
Service providers must apply for Road Carrier Permits when they amend their timetables or tariffs, transfer the permit, change the name of the undertaking concerned, replace a vehicle or when they add a vehicle.
Services that do not require Road Carrier Permits include courtesy services, lift clubs, employers carrying their own workers in vehicles of which they are the owners, and ambulances carrying patients to places where they will receive medical attention.
Cross Border Permits
Planning to start a road-based export or tourism business? If your planned business involves transporting goods or passengers across South African borders, you need to make sure you have a valid Cross Border Permit. As with the Road Carrier Permits, these too are gazetted once the transport service provider is successful in their application.
Applying for a cross-border permit is necessary if you engage in the commercial transportation of goods or passengers across borders, and if the total mass of your vehicle or the combination of vehicles exceeds 3 500kg.
The purpose of Cross Border Permits is to ensure an efficient flow of goods and passengers across borders. The permits assist freight operators, passenger transport, and tourism vehicles to move from one Southern African Development Community (SADC) country to the next without experiencing extended delays at border posts. The permits also regulate competition in the cross-border passenger road transport industry , enhance business opportunities and broaden market access for cross-border road freight transport operators.
All the above-mentioned transport permits, when issued, will feature in upcoming Government Gazettes. These are items that could have an important bearing on our individual lives, your business, or the entire sector in which you operate. Don’t miss out on vital opportunities; reach out to Sabinet today to remain up-to-date with the ever-evolving landscape of transport permits and regulations.