GoNow E-Scooters Remain in Legal Limbo as Stellenbosch Municipality Weighs Its Next Move
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Stellenbosch’s GoNow e-scooters remain in a legal grey area months after the municipality first moved to suspend the service, with scooters still operating on the town’s streets while both sides continue to disagree on the way forward.
What happened
Stellenbosch Municipality first issued GoNow with a notice to suspend operations earlier in 2026, citing the National Road Traffic Act (93 of 1996) and its accompanying regulations, which the municipality says make e-scooter use illegal on public roads. The notice followed two unrelated incidents in which minors were injured. A stated deadline of 1 March 2026 for GoNow to cease operations passed without the scooters being impounded or the service shut down.
GoNow returned to visible operation through the first half of 2026, regaining popularity with riders, before receiving a further suspension notice in March. In June, the municipality formally confirmed the suspension, again citing safety concerns and uncertainty around the legal framework governing e-scooters.
Where it stands
GoNow disputes the municipality’s position, arguing that no legislation explicitly bars e-scooter operation and pointing to amendments moving through national legislative processes that it says are heading toward formally accommodating e-scooters rather than banning them. The municipality has said it has obtained its own legal advice and is still considering how to proceed.
A petition started by GoNow, “Move Stellenbosch Forward, Not Backward,” has drawn more than 1,800 signatures since launching in March. The company has said the service supports over 30,000 users, with more than 40,000 rides recorded in February 2026 alone. Usage has been driven heavily by students commuting to campus, work and home around the town.
What’s next
Neither side has said publicly when a final decision is expected. For now, the scooters continue to operate in the same unresolved position they’ve held for months: not formally shut down, but without a clear legal basis for their operation either. Vine & Valley will follow this story as it develops.