Public transport and licence regulations in COVID-19 lockdown

learner-licence.jpg

All learner's licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences & professional driving permits that expire during the period from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 Aug 2021, are deemed valid and their validity periods are extended for a further grace period ending on 31 March 2022.

The notice of extension has been published in the latest Government Gazette.

Media statement: Minister Mbalula extends licence grace period and unveils interventions to improve driving licence processes


  •  All motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits and roadworthy certificates that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity period is extended for a further grace period ending on 31 August 2020.
  • Motor trade number licences that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and are extended for a further grace period ending on 30 November 2020.
  • Our walk-in centre at the corner of Loop and Dorp Street is open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 2:30 pm
    Contact details for motor vehicle-related enquiries :
    Email: brandon.ellie@westerncape.gov.za or randal.barreiro@westerncape.gov.za
  • All public transport operating licences and accreditation certificates for tourist transport services that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020, are deemed to be valid and a grace period of 90 days from the date of publication of these Directions is granted for the renewal of these licences and certificates.

Opening hours for DLTCs and registering authorities within the City and Cape Town (CCT) can be viewed on CCT's website.


Public transport

Public transport users can dial *134*234# and let us know what kind of public transport vehicle they are travelling on, whether the vehicle is adhering to lockdown loading limits, whether the driver is wearing a mask, whether there is hand sanitiser on board, and whether the vehicle is clean and tidy.

GO GEORGE bus small.jpg

For purposes of long distance travel minibus, midibus or minibus taxi -type services are permitted to carry not more than 70% of their maximum licensed passenger capacity for long distance intra- provincial and permitted inter- provincial travel and are subject to the following limitations:

  • A minibus licensed to carry a maximum of 10 passengers, is limited to carry a maximum of 7 passengers;
  • a minibus licensed to carry a maximum of 15 passengers, is limited to carry a maximum of 10 passengers; and
  • a midibus licensed to carry a maximum of 22 passengers, is limited to carry a maximum of 15 passengers; and bus services are permitted to carry not more than 70% of their maximum licenced passenger capacity for long distance intra- provincial and permitted inter -provincial travel.
08_12 TPW transport sticker.jpg

Long distance rail operations and travel may resume domestic services.

For purposes of any trip not regarded as long distance travel including travel by bus, minibus, midibus, minibus taxi -type services, e- hailing services, meter taxis, shuttle services, chauffer driven vehicles and scholar transport vehicles are permitted to carry 100% of their maximum licensed passenger capacity. Rail operations are permitted to carry not more than 70% of their licensed passenger capacity.

Private motor vehicles can make long distance trips, and are permitted to carry their full licensed carrying capacity.

Scholar transport

Scholar Transport Flyer A5_R2.jpg

Red Dot

Red-Dot_681A9717.jpg

We launched the Red Dot service on 18 May 2020.

Red Dot Lite will provide a chartered transport service for those Department of Health employees who need to travel for work between 7 pm and 5 am. From 1 June, the service will also transport citizens who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are at high-risk of having been exposed to the virus to public isolation and quarantine centres which have been established across the Province.


More information on Covid-19 and the lockdown