[Image: WikiCommons]The Department of Transport (DoT) has introduced new regulations requiring all Uber, Bolt, and other e-hailing cars to be branded with their company’s logo, install panic buttons linked to 24/7 monitoring centres, and apply for special operating licences. The regulations came into force on 12 September 2025, following the DoT’s gazetting of the National Land Transport Amendment Act. The aim is to enhance passenger safety, improve service standards, and create clearer boundaries between e-hailing services and traditional taxis. Vehicle branding will also distinguish e-hailing from private cars, addressing taxi complaints about “ghost rides.”The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) welcomed the rules: “Uber and Bolt must toe the line when new regulations kick in.” Which is a bit rich, coming from the pot. Since Uber arrived in 2013 and Bolt in 2016, the industry has exploded to over 10 million monthly trips and 150,000 drivers across South Africa.