The National Department of Transport (NDoT) is convening the Electric Vehicle Regulations Framework (EVRF) and Green Transport Strategy (GTS) 2018-2050 awareness campaign in various provinces. The Gauteng leg was hosted on Wednesday, 26 July 2023 at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, City of Ekurhuleni. 
The one-day meeting served to provide awareness to the Department on approved frameworks and guidelines. It also afforded an opportunity to stakeholders to identify gaps and ways of achieving targets set in the Green Transport Strategy (2050) approved in 2018 as well as EVRF which was approved in 2023. Chief Director Mr Themba Tenza requested stakeholders to provide the national Department with “best ways of moving together on both implementation and a constant reflection on how effective and efficient the implementation will be and a concentration on Gauteng, as it contributes to the national imperatives and to ensure that we don’t leave anyone out in the value-chain”. 
A link to other projects related to Research and Innovation such as Autonomous Vehicles (AVs); Environmental Implementation Plan (EIP) and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) are currently on-going whilst the Green Procurement Guidelines were almost completed. 
Representatives from Eskom, SANEDI, cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, Department of Roads and Transport, its entity - g-FleeT Management, OEMs, NERSA and RTMC were present. All were made aware of their organizations’ roles and participation in this greening project. Green Transport Strategy Project Manager Ms Bopang Khutsoane pointed out that “the GTS is a cornerstone of policy development within the transport sector for the lowering of GHG emissions, the contribution of transport to the green economy, the promotion of green sustainable mobility and the uptake of cleaner and more efficient technologies.
Currently two municipalities have requested National Department of Transport through the South African National Energy Development Institute’s (SANEDI) assistance as well as Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to facilitate the uptake of hydrogen and fuel cell powered vehicles. The municipalities are the Cities of Tshwane and eThekwini while the City of Johannesburg is off the plan. Representatives from the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) urged government to find ways to incentivise production. To this Ms Khutsoane indicated that National department is working on a transition plan on green jobs and the impact on their value-chains. She added the Rail Migration Plan is being carried out in financial year 2023/24 while mapping of current infrastructure is being undertaken. This will include taxi ranks as these facilities have been identified as possible e-charging stations and consultations with stakeholder are on-going. 
The session was able to unpack information on who/what a manufacturer is; the components, issues related to assembling, electric wiring as well as local manufacturing of electric batteries. Localisation and beneficiation were also issues highlighted to boost economic development and job creation. 
The team’s next stop is the Province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.