Contrary to Gauteng police claims, Bolt says 30 impounded vehicles are duly licensed

E-hailing service provider Bolt has responded to the Gauteng Traffic Police’s decision to impound 30 Bajaj Qute cars in Johannesburg. The vehicles were part of Bolt’s Lite service, a newly launched vertical that offers rides at a slightly lower rate than the regular options. According to the ride-hailing company, the accusations that the vehicles aren’t licensed to operate in Johannesburg or anywhere else in South Africa aren’t true.

Defending the crackdown on the Qute cars, the spokesperson for the Gauteng Traffic Police, Sello Maremane said that none of the drivers apprehended could provide a taxi operating license. Despite being duly registered, Maramane insisted that they still needed operating licenses. 

“Not a single vehicle that we have impounded has actually tried to apply for operating licenses. This has the potential to endanger the lives of other road users and spark taxi violence,” Maremane said.

Reacting to the decision to seize its vehicles, Bolt’s Regional Manager for East and Southern Africa, Takura Malaba, said that the company was aware of the current situation. In response to Technext’s inquiry into the matter, the Regional Manager said the action was unexpected and that the drivers have not been presented with an official reason for the impound.

Malaba further stated that Bajaj vehicles have been licensed to operate in South Africa and on the country’s many roads.

Still on the issue of licensing, Malaba said the NRCS had not found a reason to prevent the Qute vehicles from being driven on South African roads.

“Additionally, these vehicles have undergone a standard vehicle licensing process and have been issued with number plates after the registration process with the Gauteng Transport and Logistics department. These vehicles have been registered on the electronic National Administration Traffic Information System (NaTIS) and have Gauteng (GP) license plates as well,” he concluded. 

As of the time of filing this report, the Gauteng Traffic Police has yet to issue a response to Bolt’s claims. The company, however, said it is currently engaging with the local authorities to resolve this situation.

Read also: Bolt at 10: Small beginnings, big wins and global problems

The controversial decision to impound Bolt’s Qute cars 

Interestingly, Bolt’s Lite service launch was done in partnership with a government body, the Gauteng Government’s Economic Development Body. Why it has stayed quiet on this issue remains a mystery. 

It is also worth noting that Vhatuka Mbelengwa of the South African E-hailing Association was dissatisfied with the proposed use of Qute vehicles. He called it “a disaster to happen.” While he cited the Qute’s poor safety features as a major issue for his concerns, he also stated that their entry into the taxi scene would spark a crisis. 

A few weeks later, the police said the same thing while claiming the vehicles in question lacked an operating license. Whether this was done because of a licensing issue or to prevent clashes with other taxi operators is anybody’s guess to make at this point. 

Recall that Technext reported that Uber and Bolt’s drivers were banned from operating around the Soweto mall following repeated clashes with regular taxi drivers. You can read up on that story below:

Uber and Bolt Soweto-Malls ban is due to failure to regulate South Africa’s e-hailing industry