Tourism industry representatives are exploring all potential avenues to resolve the backlog of tourist transport operating licences at the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR), but suggestions for self-regulation are premature in light of encouraging progress made in engagements with the Department of Transport (DoT), SATSA has said.  

Frustrated by the long delays in the issuing and renewal of licences, some tour operators have suggested that the responsibility for the licensing process should be handed over to SATSA. 

“Remove the regulation for an OL as we are already issued with an Operator Licence disc by Provincial Traffic since we operate a commercial vehicle. Let SATSA open a division for Wheel Operators in Tourism and obtain a special printed SATSA OL disc that is underwritten by all parties involved,” Fanie van Zyl, founder of Route Africa Travel and Tours, said in a comment to a Tourism Update article.

Another reader agreed with Van Zyl’s suggestions. “No need to continue this effort with NPTR who are not interested nor care about tourist operating permits. It's pointless. We do not want to nor do we either care about an OL that is credited by the NPTR. Business carries on as usual. It’s worth less than the paper. However, a SATSA OL will have the respect by the industry and I am sure they will be able to issue them swiftly and in line with the required standards.”

SATSA CEO David Frost acknowledged the comments by saying that all potential solutions to the problem were being explored, but urged for patience as engagements with government continued. 

“We are cognisant of the frustrations of the tourism industry and the need for urgent solutions, which we have been at the forefront of attempting to facilitate. We are encouraged by the progress being made with the current processes and optimistic that positive outcomes will emerge from these,” said Frost.

During a July 26 meeting between Tourism Minister Fikile Mbalula and SATSA, the Minister said the DoT had set a goal to clear the backlog of applications by September 30. The NPTR committee has been meeting three times a week to process existing applications and clear a backlog that numbers in the hundreds. This is in addition to a once-weekly meeting by a technical task team, headed by the Deputy Director-General of Public Transport, Mathabatha Mokonyama and SATSA’s Transport Committee Chair, Onne Vegter. 

SATSA communicated a full update on the processes to its members earlier this week.