By Botho Male 
Over a period of six days from 17 to 22 August 2023, the Department’s Public Transport Inspectorate Unit (PTIU) impounded over twenty (29) Bajaj Qute vehicles in Johannesburg. The vehicles were operating as part of the Bolt e-hailing service. 
The PTIU team discovered, upon investigation, that the vehicles belong to an owner who rents them out to drivers on a contract basis to operate as Bolt vehicles. The owner was found not to possess operating licenses, leading to the impoundment. 
The vehicles were subsequently taken to the Derek Masoek facility in the Johannesburg CBD. The owner was alleged to have instructed drivers not to produce their drivers licenses on request and refuse acceptance of any documents from the law-enforcement officials. 
The PTIU will continue to monitor the situation.