Deadline looms for Yango drivers

Local Yango partners in Namibia are under pressure to comply with a works and transport ministry directive requiring all e-hailing service providers to acquire public passenger permits by the end of September or cease operations.The directive follows a petition submitted earlier this month by Windhoek taxi drivers to works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi, calling for stricter measures against e-hailing operators and demanding that public transport regulations be applied across the board.The Road Transportation Act and Regulations of 1977 (Act No. 74 of 1977) requires permits authorising the transportation of passengers for reward on public roads within Namibia’s borders.Previously, Yango operators only needed a private vehicle and access to the Yango app to transport passengers.An investigation by Namibian Sun found that most Yango partners in Windhoek have reportedly instructed their drivers to apply for the necessary permits by the end of August or risk being blocked from the app.A representative of a local Yango partner, who spoke to Namibian Sun on condition of anonymity, said the order had filtered down from Yango Namibia’s head office.“We saw the directive on social media and later received confirmation from Yango head office that all drivers must register for the necessary permit to avoid being blocked from the app,” he said.“Although the minister gave operators until the end of September, we are pushing our drivers to finalise their applications by the end of August.”Smaller pool of drivers The representative added that the new requirements may automatically reduce the number of active Yango drivers.“This will obviously shrink the number of partners. Before, drivers only needed an identification card (ID) and a valid driving licence," he said."Now the registration for permits requires drivers to submit documents such as a code of conduct, motor vehicle licence and, for foreign drivers, a valid work visa to operate,” he explained.Mixed reaction from driversLocal drivers have expressed divided opinions over the directive. One driver welcomed the move, saying it would safeguard jobs for Namibians.“Foreign drivers dominate the Yango market, often without proper papers, and they flood the system, reducing prices because the supply exceeds the demands," he said."These jobs should be reserved for Namibians. You will never find a Namibian driving a taxi in another country,” he argued.Another driver, however, slammed the directive as an unnecessary money-making scheme.“The ministry just wants to cash in through application fees and renewals. Yango has been safe and reliable, so this decision doesn’t make sense,” he said.Efforts to obtain comment from Yango Namibia’s head office proved unsuccessful by the time of going to print.

Deadline looms for Yango drivers

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-25

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Deadline looms for Yango drivers

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-25

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