This is according to Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula’s written response on the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG). The backlog in the Northern Cape is at 2 698 applications. Whereas KwaZulu-Natal has the highest backlog, with 2 859 applications for taxi operating licences that are yet to be finalised.  It is unknown why the Northern Cape has such a high number of backlogs, when it is a demographically smaller province.

The reasons for the existing delays are identified as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the processing of applications as well as the current pace of the National Land Transport Information System (NLTIS), which has also been described as unreliable. The department anticipates that by the end of March 2022, the backlog will be cleared. Overall there are 7 920 applications for taxi operating licences that are yet to be greenlit or fully processed across the country.

OFM News previously reported that transport regulatory entities in the Gauteng and North West provinces are unforthcoming on the state of the backlog there. 

READ MORE: NW mum on taxi operating licences backlog

Mbalula, says in his response that they requested in early November 2021 that each of the entities in the nine provinces should submit details of their backlogs, causes of delays and indications as to when the backlogs will be dealt with. Both Gauteng and the North West are yet to respond to the national department’s request.

The Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Mpumalanga indicate there are no backlogs in those provinces.

OFM News