17 Jun 2024

The Department of Road Transport Services (DRTS) has effective Saturday started receiving applications for passenger transporters permits, an exercise which had been suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview on Friday, DRTS Director Mr Bokhutlo Modukanele explained that the department was among others mandated to provide the public with various services which included registration of vehicles, issuance of licences and permits for transportation of people and goods.

Mr Modukanele said for the month of June, applications would only be received on weekends to allow for effective management of the anticipated crowds. Thereafter, Mr Modukanele said, receiving of new applications would return to the normal working hours.

He said such applications would be gazetted, go through Transport Advisory Board (TAB) prior to approval. Mr Modukanele said gazetting of applications was for transparency and to allow for all concerned parties including those already in the business to have a say on how issuance of new permits  would impact those already in the business.

Mr Modukanele said some members of the public had been complaining that the suspension was denying them an opportunity to venture into transport business and some locations were complaining of lack of transport.

He said the applications were open for all existing and possible new routes. Mr Modukanele said as it was the case with any other business, it was advisable for the applicants to first conduct market survey to ascertain viability adding that an application must be accompanied by a business plan.

“We provide a guide by giving the applicants all the necessary information relating to the proposed routes which include the number of buses or mini buses already plying that route. Based on a person’s market research, the applicant has the right to dispute our advice and trust their survey,” he said.

Mr Modukanele gave an example of  some individuals who had disregarded DRTS advice and were issued with permits for Gaborone–Taung route only for their transport business to fail. He said some believed they were denied an opportunity to engage in businesses which they deemed viable.

Generally, he said there were peak hours where movement of the people was at peak, while most hours of the day were quiet. He said it was unfortunate that some members of the public were not heeding their advice, accusing staff members of not being truthful in their advice.

He said the department  therefore took a decision to allow all interested persons to apply for any route permit.

Mr Modukanele added some passengers were using lessons learnt during the COVID-19 where movement was restricted, to determine whether to take a trip or not with some even avoid crowded spaces such as public transport by opting to walk or using a bicycle as such options also have benefits of health and wellness.

He added that some villages such as Palapye and Letlhakane used to have minibuses but had since disappeared as their service was not viable and taxis were the most preferred mode of transport.

“We also have call cabs as well as a challenge of un-authorised transporters who were equally worsening the situation for those issued with permits,” he said.

Mr Modukanele said it was not unusual for some individuals to be dominating routes either for local or long distance transporters. 

He said like any other business, transport services were dominated by those who had long identified its viability, therefore it was not by chance that they were being favoured in allocation of permits, more so that such applications were gazetted to allow anyone with a query to lodge it  well on time.

Mr Modukanele said like any other business, a person would not be denied a chance to apply for a permit just because he/she was already offering such a service.

He said it was well known that transport services in certain localities were dominated by some individuals, who had long realised the viability of such routes.

As for proposed new routes, Mr Modukanele said the applicant must provide a map of such route.

Even though people are allowed to apply for all existing routes, Mr Modukanele said where possible, the department would advise the applicants on the routes viewed as congested.He advised those wishing to apply and working in the public service to get permission to engage in such businesses from their supervisors.

Currently there are 6 536 Taxi permits, 3 369 local mini buses, 2 316 scheduled buses, 169 call cabs and 591 school buses. Ends