Department of Transport Introduces New Safety Features for E-hailing Drivers and Commuters in Mzansi

• The South African Department of Transport (DoT) has formalised new public transport safety laws targeting digital e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt
• Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed the introduction of mandatory car safety features, including hardware panic buttons and end-to-end trip tracking
• The e-hailing federation has expressed deep concern that visible app-branding rules will expose vulnerable drivers to violent targeted attacks by traditional taxi rivals
• Briefly News spoke with e-hailing driver Jonathan Musinda to get his thoughts on the Department of Transport's newly gazetted safety regulations

The Department of Transport (DoT) has stepped in to curb escalating violence in the e-hailing sector by formalising strict new safety laws to protect both passengers and digital operators across South Africa. The regulatory changes follow a sharp rise in violent crimes targeting the e-hailing industry. Operators frequently face hijackings and ambushes by criminals posing as customers, while riders fall victim to unverified pirate drivers roaming in transit hubs such as the airport parking zones.

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Government mandates panic button and real-time tracking

Responding directly to parliamentary concerns regarding rider security, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy detailed the new guidelines governing digital transport providers. As reported by automotive news platform TopAuto, the newly instituted National Land Transport sub-regulations require that every car operating on a digital platform be outfitted with a physical panic button. Commuters are also encouraged to use the existing in-app emergency buttons as needed.

Furthermore, the state now mandates comprehensive live location monitoring, requiring platforms to record entire transits from pick-up to destination. To protect commuters from fraudulent operators, applications are legally required to push real-time alerts before a user boards. These alerts must display a clear, recent portrait photograph of the driver along with the exact vehicle registration data.

Strict registration rules and heavy fines for tech companies

Beyond passenger safety features, the updated legislation is putting strict limits on tech platforms themselves. Under the new framework, all e-hailing software applications must be officially registered with government transport regulators to operate legally within the country. The state has also introduced severe legal penalties to ensure compliance from tech giants. App developers who allow drivers to use their platforms without a valid operating licence now face criminal charges, which can result in a hefty fine of up to R100,000 or two years' imprisonment.

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Bolt counters crime with strict ID and selfie verification

In a separate move to address the escalating safety crisis from the passenger side, e-hailing giant Bolt announced at its inaugural Rider and Passenger Safety Summit in Johannesburg that it is rolling out an expanded identity verification system. According to an assessment by technology news platform ITWeb, the platform now requires passengers to upload their South African ID numbers alongside a real-time selfie before they can request rides. These details are instantly cross-referenced with database records at the Department of Home Affairs to ensure full accountability and block criminals who attempt to use fake profiles to lure and ambush unsuspecting drivers.

Strict laws and the reality of driving on Mzansi roads

We had the pleasure of speaking with Jonathan to discuss whether mandatory panic buttons, car branding, and strict area boundaries will actually protect drivers or create new challenges on the ground. The team asked his thoughts on the Department of Transport making physical panic buttons mandatory in all e-hailing vehicles.

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“It is a step in the right direction because we face terrible violence and hijacking risks daily. Having a physical button is much safer than trying to open an app on your phone while a criminal is threatening you. It gives us a real chance to call for help quickly.”

We asked if he was not worried about being a target, seeing that the cars would be brand new.

“Yes, definitely. While it stops fraudsters, putting clear branding on our cars paints a massive target on our backs. It makes us easily identifiable to criminals and hostile competitors who want to push us out of certain areas.”

When asked how the new rule forcing drivers to operate within their registered jurisdictions will affect their daily business. He said:

“It is going to hurt our pockets. If I drop a passenger off outside my registered zone, I am forced to drive back empty-handed. That wastes expensive petrol and time on ‘dead kilometres’ when we are already struggling to make a living.”

4 Briefly News e-hailing related articles

• A cardash cam recorded an e-hailing driver's near-death experience, after picking up commuters who robbed him at gunpoint, shocking many social media users.
• A content creator was forced to abandon her live broadcast after gunshots rang out during an attempted cash-in-transit robbery in Thembisa.
• A woman was tricked into stepping out of her car after a man told her something on the side of her car was wrong, prompting her to step out, while another opened the passenger door to steal her purse.
• A woman whose phone was robbed in the V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town, managed to track down her robbers with the help of the police and got them arrested.

Source: Briefly News