Page 12 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

LEARNING UNIT 3: GUIDES, TOUR OPERATORS, DRIVERS

AND VEHICLES

Registration requirements for guides

The Tourism Act of 2014

To provide for the development and promotion of sustainable tourism

for the benefit of the Republic, its residents and its visitors; to provide

for the continued existence of the South African Tourism board; to

provide for the establishment of the Tourism Grading Council; to

regulate the tourist guide profession; to repeal certain laws; and to

provide for matters connected therewith (Government Gazette, 7 April

2014).

Tourist Guiding in South

Africa is regulated by the

National Department of

Tourism (NDT).

This is the Government

Department ultimately

responsible for creating

the framework within

which Tourism in South

Africa can flourish.

Page 13 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

The regulation of tourist guides by the government varies from country

to country.

In the United States, no national policies for guides exist with regard to

licensing, certification, training, pay and benefits, or marketing or

conducting tours. Several cities require licenses for guides, but none of

these cities requires any training, and only New York City regularly

enforces the licensing policy.

Throughout Europe, government's role in regulating guiding varies. Al-

though England and Germany have excellent guides and training

programmes, their governments exercise little control over guide

training.

Many countries, including Scotland, Ireland, France, Greece, and

Belgium have government- controlled guide training, and the national

governments in Ireland, France, Denmark, and Portugal authorize

guiding operations. In some countries, guide regulations are rigorous

and "unqualified persons" guiding groups of travellers could even face

arrest.

Registration of tourist guides ensures that professionalism is maintained

in the industry and that the tourist’s interest is protected.

Aspiring Tourist guides need to enrol for a course offered by a Cathsseta

(Culture Art Tourism Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and

Training Authority) accredited institution e.g. MGT Training Solutions

(Makiti Guides & Tours).

Page 14 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

After being found competent for either a Skills Programme (as a Site

Guide), or The Further Education And Training Certificate: Tourist,

Guiding NQF L4 (71549), a certificate is issued by Cathsseta.

The student can then apply to the National Department of Tourism

(NDT) by submitting the relevant documents to the Registrar of Tourist

Guides in the province.

Accredited training provider

A Training Provider that has submitted all the necessary

policies and procedures, programme and assessment

strategies, as well as all the material to be used, and all

these have been approved against set criteria, thus

granting accreditation status for the delivery of

learnerships, skills programmes or qualifications.

Tourism authorities

All 9 provinces in South Africa each have a Tourism

office, which also markets the specific province.

This is where you will find the Registrar of Tourist

Guides.

Page 15 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

Registration procedure for tourist guides

Complete the application form.

Sign the Tourist Guide Code of Conduct and Ethics.

Pay the registration fee of R240-00 (inclusive of VAT). Check with

your Provincial Tourism Authority about payment options.

Submit the following:

A certified copy of your valid First Aid Certificate LEVEL 1

(recognized by the Department of Labour).

4 recent, clear, identical, 30x25mm full-colour photographs of

yourself (only head and shoulders only).

A certified copy of your identity document.

A certified copy of your work permit/passport (if applicable).

A certified copy of the Cathsseta Certificate / other recognised

certificate.

A Declaration of Competence (DOC) issued by the accredited

provider confirming your training, assessment and guiding scope

(category and site/region/province that you qualified for.

A copy of your public driver’s permit, if you have one.

A copy of your foreign language proficiency certificate (if

applicable).

Renewal of registration

Valid for 3 years.

Who can apply to register as a tourist guide?

The candidate must be a South African citizen or have a valid Work

Permit.

Foreigners living in South Africa and in possession of a 3-month work

permit may also apply for registration. They make a significant

contribution where a foreign language is required for conducting

Page 16 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

tours for non-English speaking tourists when the demand cannot be

met by local guides.

No person within the Republic or elsewhere convicted of an offence

and is sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine, may

register as a tourist guide.

No person who is not a registered tourist guide or whose registration

as a tourist guide has been suspended or withdrawn, may for reward,

whether monetary or otherwise, act as a tourist guide.

No person or company may employ as a tourist guide any person who

is not a registered tourist guide.

Legal requirements for tour operators

The Tour operator company should comply with all the legal

requirements. If not, there could be serious legal and financial

implications.

The business

1. The Tour operator business should be registered with the

Registrar of Companies.

2. The company is liable to pay income tax at a certain % on all

profits.

3. The company needs to register as a VAT vendor when taxable

supplies in the business have an expected turnover of R300, 000

per annum. The VAT (14%) collected from services or goods sold

should be paid over to Receiver of Revenue (SARS).

4. The company must comply with general accounting practices and

keep records for auditing.

Page 17 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

The vehicles

The Road Transportation

Act

In order to carry fare-paying passengers (i.e.

tourists), a vehicle must be registered with the Local

Road Transportation Board and the vehicle should

carry a Public Transport Permit.

Applicants are normally required to specify that they

will be carrying Tourists, and also to specify the

intended routes.

If the above application was approved the following

documentation will be required before the permit is

issued by the Board:

Vehicle registration certificate / cross border

permit

Motor vehicle license and clearance certificate

(COF)

Certificate of insurance (See Insurance Act)

Insurance Act

Passenger Liability Insurance covers the tourists (not

the guide and/or driver) travelling in the vehicle or in

a rented vehicle.

The policy should be in the name of the company.

The cover is applicable to each vehicle.

SATSA recommend a minimum of R5 million for a

vehicle carrying 5 – 7 passengers should be in place.

Recommended cover for vehicles carrying more than

7 passengers (calculate the cover based on + R1

million per passenger).

Page 18 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

What discs need to be displayed on the windscreen?

a) Licence and Roadworthy Certificate (valid for one year)

b) Road Transport Permit / Public Permit - Valid for 4 years or as

specified). The red striped square disc must be displayed on the

windscreen.

Please note that the above vehicles may not...

Carry more passengers than the number it was licensed for.

Carry hitchhikers.

Carry family or friends when on tour.

Also, do not place excess luggage in coach isle.

Drivers / driver guide

The Road Traffic Act stipulates that vehicles transporting fare-paying

passengers, or persons as a tour group, of which the transport

component is included in the tour price, by bus or other vehicle, such

vehicle may only be driven by a person of 21 years or older who has

passed the test for the specific category of vehicle.

Furthermore, a driver of a tourist vehicle must be in possession of a

valid Professional Drivers Permit (PrDP). The licence must at all times

be carried on the person and made available to any traffic official on

duty who may request to see it.

This licence is combined with your private license (valid for 5 years),

and the PrDP valid for 2 years only. The latter requires SAPD finger

print verification as well as a medical clearance certificate. The card

licence will clearly specify the code of vehicle that the holder can

drive.

Page 19 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

Code Type of

vehicle/combination

Max.

Weight

Code 8/B Micro-bus

12-Seater Sprinter

Trailer

3500 kg

3500 kg

750 kg

Code 10/C1 Bus – 15-Seater Sprinter

Truck

16000 kg

16000 kg

Code 10/C Bus + trailer

Truck + Trailer

16000 kg

16000 kg

EB/Code 8 Car +

Trailer

3500 kg

750 kg+

EC/Code 14 Bus (double axle) + Trailer 16000 kg+

To obtain a PrDP the following steps must be followed:

Details can be downloaded from http://www.gov.za/node/727518

Rules and regulations to ensure road safety

Apart from a valid Professional Driver’s permit, it is recommended that all

drivers (including driver-guides) complete a Defensive driving course with

an accredited provider (e.g. Will of Africa Training). It ensures safer

journeys by raising awareness of possible hazards and dangerous

situation, improves skill levels, addresses attitude, and courteous driving.

Itineraries should be planned keeping the various risk factors and safety

features in mind.

The most common hazards when driving

Darkness (poor visibility)

Rainy conditions

Other drivers

Page 20 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

The times of the day, and of the week, when accidents occur more

frequently:

Between dusk and dawn.

During morning and evening peak periods.

At closing time for bars, hotels and clubs.

In the afternoon when children come out of schools.

After large public gatherings, such as rugby matches or race

meetings.

Late in the week and on weekends when the use of alcohol

increases.

On public holidays and weekends when many motorists are paying

more attention to sightseeing than to proper driving.

According to the Automobile Association, fewer accidents occur after dark

due to reduced traffic flow. However, the proportion of fatalities is higher

than at daytime. Risk factors at night:

Fatigue

Inattention

Alcohol intoxication

Reduced visibility

Reduced depth perception (causing impaired judgement and

delayed reflex actions).

Reduced night vision after leaving a brightly-lit place (it takes up to

an hour before night vision is at its best).

Eye defects (i.e. night-blindness)

Tips for night driving

Avoid driving at night time.

Speed should be reduced at night.

Increase following distance.

Page 21 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

To reduce eye fatigue glance about frequently, and take in areas at

the edge of the area lit by your headlights.

Dim headlights well before an approaching vehicle is within range of

the main beam. If the other driver does not respond, flick the beam

back too high for an instant, and then dip.

Long distance travel tips (AA)

The most important points to remember when travelling long distances

are:

Make sure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before

departure.

Take safety breaks every two hours or 200 kilometres.

Buckle up both in the front and rear seats.

Do not drink and drive.

Do not overload.

Use headlights in deteriorating visibility, not parking lights.

Maintain at least a two second following distance.

Only overtake when it is absolutely safe to do so.

Plan the route to destination thoroughly.

Be courteous towards fellow road users

Allow others to pass and do not obstruct the road by remaining on the

right lane when you can move to the left lane.

Sightseeing requires that the driver / driver-guide might be driving slower

than the average speed of the road at a given time. Especially when it

comes to scenic routes in order to provide your tourists as much as

possible enjoyment. Look for places next to the road where you can pull

over with safety in order for vehicles to pass. Only do this when the

safety of your tourist and yourself. Although driving in the emergency

lane during daylight hours is permitted under certain conditions, following

Page 22 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

traffic has no right to force traffic ahead to move across the yellow line to

allow overtaking. It may be courteous to move over but it places the onus

on you to ensure that it is safe to do so.

Learn to recognise potentially dangerous drivers and keep well clear of

them.

Do not retaliate when you are provoked since this may result in a collision

or even violence (physical attack, shooting, etc.).

The AA urges motorists to be especially wary when driving near any of

the following:

Any vehicle in which the driver's range of vision is limited - such as a

fully-laden pick-up with no side mirror.

Any vehicle that is dirty, rusty, has missing parts or a badly smoking

exhaust – it is probably in poor overall mechanical condition.

A truck with a badly-packed or unsecured load, or a car with a bulky

load on the roof rack – the load, or part of it, may come adrift.

A car containing active children and pets - the driver may be accident-

prone or habitually careless.

A car with stickers on the windows, piles of luggage, and a large

number of passengers or hanging clothes - the driver's vision is

probably obscured.

A vehicle with a driver who does not appear to be giving his full

attention to the road.

Drivers who obstruct and do not let you pass - slow down and let him

get far ahead.

A vehicle that "wanders" about the road - it could be faulty steering or

suspension, or the driver may be drunk or sleepy.

Page 23 of 54

Generic Tour Operations LEG-110 2017-06 © MGT Training Solutions

Buckle-up

Every year in South Africa around 10 000 people die and another 150 000

people are injured in road traffic accidents.

Always wear your seat belt and see that everyone in the car is wearing

theirs (not only people in the front seat!)

Always put all children in a proper child seat or harness. It needs to be

securely fitted, the right size and used correctly.

Always place any loose items in the car boot.

Always adjust the seat and the head restraint to prevent or reduce

whiplash.

Other important rules

Keep within the speed limit.

Do not overtake on a solid white line.

Only park at designated areas.

Refrain from using your cell phone.