Wanatu back on the road, thanks to AfriForum

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Afrikaans e-hailing service Wanatu is back in action after approaching the North Gauteng High Court with an urgent interdict on Friday, 21 February, funded by AfriForum.

The privately owned company had its vehicles seized by the Tshwane Metro Police Department after a failure to produce an operating license.

According to transport authorities, there is a large backlog of permit applications.

WANATU BACK ON THE ROADS

According to MyBroadband, the North Gauteng High Court has barred the Department of Transport from impounding e-hailing vehicles based on the backlog of permit applications from the provincial government.

Wanatu and several other services were able to resume operations as a result.

The Afrikaans e-hailing services – which operate in Pretoria and Centurion – thanked AfriForum and law firm Hunter Spies for covering their legal expenses.

Wanatu CEO Judith van der Walt said: “Justice was served.”

She added: “This is a victory for every e-hailing driver in Tshwane. The city cannot punish drivers for a backlog that was not caused by them”.

Wanatu began operating in October 2024 and has been hailed as a “safe and reliable” e-hailing alternative.

While drivers are required to speak Afrikaans, the service is open to the public.

COMMEMORATING ‘INTERNATIONAL MOTHER TONGUE DAY’

In a press statement, AfriForum celebrated the return of Wanatu on Friday, which coincided with International Motehr Tongue Day.

Campaign Officer Louis Boshoff said: “WANATU currently provides an indispensable service to clients in the Pretoria area, and the suspension of their service due to a problem on the part of the state has left many clients without a safe and reliable option.

“To be able to claim this victory on International Mother Language Day is an additional reason for joy. WANATU’s promotion of Afrikaans entrepreneurship from and for the Afrikaans community can now continue, thanks to AfriForum’s support”.