GAUTENG — The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and Housing has issued an urgent directive regarding more than 400 uncollected operating licenses currently sitting in provincial offices. MEC of Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela is personally appealing to all transport operators, with a specific focus on minibus taxi and scholar transport providers, to retrieve their valid permits immediately to avoid automatic cancellation and subsequent illegal operation penalties.
The provincial department has successfully resolved systemic bottlenecks that caused a severe approval backlog dating back to 2009. To shield drivers from unfair penalties during this prolonged period, the department previously granted an amnesty. This allowed applicants to legally operate using their Operating License Application (OLA) receipts as temporary proof of compliance. However, officials warn that this protective measure is temporary and cannot substitute for a finalized permit indefinitely.
Statutory regulations dictate that operating licenses must be collected within 90 days of issuance. While the department is currently honoring extensions to maximize compliance and keep drivers on the right side of the law, this grace period will not last forever. Once the permits are formally canceled, any vehicle on the road without the finalized document will be deemed illegal, exposing drivers to strict law enforcement actions.
MEC Diale-Tlabela explained that the department is actively investigating why these documents remain unclaimed. Recent outreach initiatives, including departmental roadshows at the Greater Albert Association, revealed complex administrative hurdles. In several instances, the original applicants have passed away, leaving beneficiaries completely unaware of the pending assets. Other applicants have relocated to rural regions, such as Limpopo or KwaZulu-Natal, or provided inaccurate contact information, making them unreachable by standard departmental channels.
A critical emphasis was placed on scholar transport operators during the appeal. The MEC clarified that government-contracted or subcontracted scholar drivers cannot legally function or receive state payments without a finalized, valid operating license. While the bulk of the uncollected permits belong to the minibus taxi sector, scholar operators are being strongly urged to regularize their status immediately to avoid disruption to their services and funding.
Framing the operating license as a crucial economic instrument that sustains jobs and drives provincial growth, the department is partnering with local transport associations to trace missing applicants. Operators who have previously applied are strongly advised to proactively visit their nearest Gauteng transport center to verify if their name is on the list of the 400 uncollected licenses, ensuring they secure their legal right to operate before the extension window permanently closes.