NW Transport admits to backlogs in operating permits

The Department of Transport in the North West says it had a backlog of close to 5 000 operating permits in 2023.

Currently, the department says it has managed to process over 3 000 permits.

Members of Moruleng District Taxi Association (MODITA) raised concerns about the department failing to process their operating licenses.

They say they are being issued with hefty fines by law enforcement for operating public transport without permits.

“I applied for a permit three years ago went to a board meeting twice.

For the third time they told me to wait for 21 days even now I have not received it,” says an operator.

“This thing does hurt us because every time when I leave the house, I pray that nothing should not happen to the taxi and the passengers.

I wish government could assist us because we are indebted to the fines while on the other hand we pay for these taxis,” says another operator.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Regulatory Entity in the Department of Transport says it is experiencing a backlog, due to system failures.

“As at 31 of December 2023 the backlog stood at 4 921, to date 3 368 adjudications have been done and we are sitting at the balance of 1535, that’s on the backlog.

We cannot single out MODITA alone out of all association we have in the province.

We have adjudicated to date over 160 applications from MODITA alone and those adjudications have been completed.” Chairperson of the entity, Phenye Vilakazi says.