A survey conducted by SATSA in April has revealed the extent of the problem of the backlog in vehicle operating licences for tour operators.
The backlog is due to the state of inertia at the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR) in Pretoria, which seems unable to issue the required licences, despite pleas to the Minister of Transport to remedy the situation.
According to the regulations under the National Land Transport Act, operators whose permits have expired can legally operate on the expired permit until such time as the NPTR issues their new permit, provided they applied for renewal on time – 30 days before expiry of the operating licence. Yet operators report that their vehicles are stopped and impounded often with tourists inside the vehicle. This tarnishes the image both of the tour operator and of South Africa as a tourism destination.
The survey showed that out of a total of 131 tourism operators, who together have a fleet of 877 vehicles/minibuses/coaches, 913 applications are outstanding.
These applications range from operating licence renewals, amendments, new applications and transfers, to company accreditation applications and renewals.
A total of 391 of the 877 vehicles could not be used legally, while 60 vehicles had been sold and operators had held back on buying 175 new vehicles due to the challenges with NPTR. Four businesses closed their doors because of the NPTR.
Tour operators reported 167 incidents of traffic officials stopping and harassing drivers in front of tourists and in 49 cases this resulted in fines, while 21 vehicles were impounded.
SATSA COO, Hannelie du Toit, said the organisation, which represents 1 300 companies, had sought legal advice and was considering court action to resolve the matter which she said was the equivalent of “economic suicide or perhaps economic decimation”.
“It is illegal to carry passengers (tourists) for gain without an operating licence. NPTR can’t issue operating licences. Traffic officials are impounding vehicles and issuing fines. SA’s reputation as well as that of the operator is being damaged in the eyes of the tourists because it looks like they are breaking the law,” said Du Toit.
‘Ludicrous’
She said it was “ludicrous” that the industry had to seek legal remedies to the situation.
“To have to take government to court in order to get them to do their job is ludicrous, but we are left with no other option having lobbied at all levels and with all the different Ministers of Tourism we have had in the last couple of years. All we want is for the NPTR to issue operating licences as per the Act, in a timeous manner, and without overstepping their mandate. It is not a privilege to get an operating licence, as the previous Chair of the NPTR Board said in a meeting; it is a right,” said Du Toit.
The Department of Transport had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.
