The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has called on public transport operators in possession of expired operating licences to take advantage of the department’s window of opportunity to renew their operating licences by July 31.
To date, the department says, it has identified over 6 000 operating licences that need to be renewed; however, less than 500 applications have been received and processed.
Section 25 of the National Land Transport Regulations requires that an operating licence that was issued for more than 30 days must be renewed not later than 30 days before expiry.
The regulations further state that if the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) has not issued an operating licence by the expiry date, the operating licence will remain valid until a renewed licence has been issued on condition that the operator keeps in the vehicle the receipt issued by the PRE as proof that such an application was made.
The department, therefore, has called on industry leaders to impress upon affected members the need to respond to the call by submitting applications.
It emphasised that the receipt and the expired operating licence must always remain attached.
Applicants are also urged to submit a list with the operators and their expired licences' details through their respective associations before the end of July.