South Africa: Gauteng Launches New Digital Platform to Process Transport Operating Licences

What the report says

Gauteng has launched a new digital platform, the Gauteng Public Transport Regulatory Information System (GPTRIS), to handle transport operating licence applications and related regulatory tasks. According to SAnews.gov.za, which was distributed by AllAfrica, the province says the system is intended to cut administrative delays, improve access for operators and modernize how licences are processed.

Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the platform is meant to make the licensing process faster, more transparent and more responsive while still ensuring applications are assessed under the relevant legal and regulatory requirements. The department said the system is designed to strengthen compliance checks, reduce the burden of paper-based procedures and improve workflow efficiency.

The platform is expected to offer self-service tools so applicants can submit applications and track progress remotely, alongside integrated digital payment options and real-time tracking. The department also said it will improve the handling of licensing information, including route data, to support better accuracy and governance.

The launch is also relevant to e-hailing operators, following the legal recognition of e-hailing services as public transport under the National Land Transport Amendment Act and regulations in 2025. More broadly, the move fits Gauteng’s wider digital transformation efforts aimed at improving public service delivery in transport regulation.