The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the operator licence of Super Metro Limited due to multiple violations of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) regulations. The suspension will remain in effect until the company fully complies with the Public Service Vehicles Regulations, 2014, and meets other specified conditions.
The NTSA stated that the decision was necessary to ensure Super Metro adheres to safety measures that protect passengers and other road users. A detailed review of the company’s operations uncovered several compliance failures, including expired vehicle inspection certificates, unqualified drivers, and non-compliance with road speed limit regulations.
Key Violations Identified
A comprehensive audit of Super Metro’s fleet and operations revealed the following infractions:
- Vehicle Compliance: Out of the company’s 523 vehicles, 15 had expired inspection certificates, and eight had expired Road Service Licences (RSL).
- Speed Limit Compliance: Five vehicles had expired speed limiter certificates, 88 were not transmitting speed data, 171 had no speed limiter records, and seven lacked vendor details. Additionally, 109 vehicles were found to be operating beyond the 80 km/h speed limit.
- Driver Qualifications: The driving credentials of Super Metro’s drivers failed to meet the required qualifications, posing significant road safety risks.
- Labour Law Violations: The company was found to be in breach of the NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 2014, specifically failing to comply with statutory labour requirements such as employee contracts, insurance, and statutory deductions.
Conditions for Licence Reinstatement
The NTSA has outlined a series of corrective measures that Super Metro Limited must implement before its licence can be reinstated. These include:
- Presenting 294 vehicles with compliance violations for checks by the respective speed limiter vendors.
- Submitting 294 vehicles for compliance inspection at the Likoni Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre and obtaining reports.
- Re-testing 42 drivers with speed violations at the Likoni Driver Test Centre. Notably, 64 drivers failed a retest on March 10, 2025, leading to the suspension of their licences.
- Disengaging unqualified drivers immediately to enhance road safety.
- Providing proof of employee contracts, payroll records, and statutory remittances for compliance with labour laws.
- Conducting a road safety sensitisation programme for all drivers, facilitated by NTSA officers, and submitting a detailed report.
- Undergoing a compliance audit by the NTSA to verify adherence to all regulations.
Public Caution and Enforcement Measures
In light of these findings, NTSA has cautioned the public against boarding vehicles operated by Super Metro Limited until the suspension is lifted. The Traffic Department has been instructed to impound any Super Metro vehicles found operating in violation of the suspension order.
Passengers and road users are urged to prioritise safety by using compliant public transport services. The NTSA reiterated its commitment to enforcing traffic laws to enhance road safety and ensure PSV operators adhere to the highest standards of compliance.
For now, Super Metro faces an indefinite suspension unless it meets the set conditions and proves its commitment to passenger and road user safety.