Ride-hailing platform inDrive has secured formal registration from South Africa’s National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR), clearing a key compliance hurdle under legislation introduced last year to govern the country’s rapidly expanding e-hailing sector.
The approval, issued under Section 66A of the National Land Transport Amendment Act and the 2025 Regulations for e-hailing platform providers, confirms inDrive meets statutory requirements for digital ride-hailing services operating in the country. The company had submitted its application in December 2025.
“The approval confirms that inDrive meets the statutory and operational requirements set out for digital ride-hailing services in South Africa,” said Ashif Black, Country Representative for inDrive South Africa. “It is an important milestone in formalising e-hailing as part of the country’s public transport system.”
The registration grants inDrive drivers a clearer pathway to obtaining lawful operating licences under national transport rules, a point of uncertainty that has complicated compliance for operators and drivers since South Africa began integrating e-hailing platforms into its formal public transport framework.
Black said the company would maintain active engagement with government and industry stakeholders as the regulatory environment continues to develop. “The e-hailing sector is evolving into a more structured part of public transport in South Africa. We support that direction and will continue engaging constructively as the framework develops.”
inDrive operates a marketplace model that enables drivers and passengers to negotiate fares directly within the app, paired with a low service fee structure the company says is designed to maximise driver earnings. The company confirmed both features remain unchanged following the approval.
The NPTR registration brings inDrive into compliance alignment with competitors already active in the South African market and positions it as a regulated participant ahead of expected further tightening of e-hailing rules in the country.
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