Wanatu is the first e-hailing service in South Africa to be officially registered under the country’s new transport regulations.
The company announced on Tuesday, 24 February 2026 that it had successfully completed the National Public Transport Regulator’s (NPTR’s) registration process and is formally approved to operate as an e-hailing service provider.
This was confirmed by the NPTR, which issued a Certificate of Registration of 12 February 2026, stating that Wanatu is in compliance with Regulations 15, 16, 17, and 18 of the new e-hailing laws.
This is in regard to the National Land Transport Amendment Act of 2023 which, together with the 2025 Regulations, aims to establish a new framework to regulate the e-hailing industry in South Africa.
After the Amendment Act was gazetted in September 2025, the government announced that companies would have a 180-period to formally register with the Department of Transport (DoT).
The Act was introduced in response to growing concerns over deteriorating service quality and user safety, as e-hailing drivers and riders have become common targets for criminals.
Wanatu, which is often referred to as “Afrikaans Uber” on account of its language requirement for drivers, said that it proactively engaged with regulators, restructured its platform, and invested in compliance measures to ensure it would be approved before the deadline.
“This milestone positions Wanatu at the forefront of a new, fully regulated era for the country’s e-hailing industry,” the company said.
The regulations require all digitally-based e-hailing companies to register with the NPTR and meet new statutory compliance standards meant to improve user safety.
Wanatu said it made a deliberate strategic decision to align its business with the country’s new legistation.
“Our objective was clear from the outset: to operate within the law, not around it,” said Wanatu managing director Anton Grotius.
“We invested significant time and resources to ensure that every element of our platform — from driver onboarding to in-vehicle safety systems — aligns with the amended Act.”
“Wanatu views regulatory alignment not as an administrative requirement, but as a responsibility to passengers, drivers and the broader transport ecosystem.”
The deadline to register with the NPTR is on 11 March 2026, and any e-hailing services that continue to operate after this date without regulatory approval will be doing so illegally.
Clock is ticking for Bolt and Uber
Earlier this month, DoT spokesperson Collen Misibi declared that the government was finalizing an announcement about the first successfully registered e-hailing companies.
Excluding Wanantu, there are nine operators that have applied, all of which have yet to be officially registered.
As of last week, only two platforms (one of which was Wanatu), were marked as gazetted and ready for consideration.
The gazetting of an e-hailing operator’s application is only the third of the seven-step application process.
Companies are then required to meet with an adjudication committee and demonstrate their app. They must then await the committee’s decision which, if approved, will award them with a certificate.
Notably, the country’s two biggest e-hailing services, Bolt and Uber, have applied for certificates but have yet to be approved.
Both companies have stated that they are fully committed to aligning themselves with South Africa’s new regulatory framework.
Wanatu’s business model is different to Bolt and Uber in that its drivers are considered full-time employees. It also owns and maintains its own vehicle fleet.
In compliance with South Africa’s new regulations, all Wanatu vehicles are fitted with security measures like forward and interior-facing cameras, a hand radio, and a panic button linked to a security company.
Its cars are also clearly branded, but this legal requirement has raised concerns within the industry, as many drivers fear it makes them a visible target for criminals and retaliation from the taxi industry.
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