GONOW IS SHIFTING GEARS IN POTCHEFSTROOM

August 7, 2026 105 2

Caitlyn Miles

@Kaitlynmiles123

Potchefstroom’s Die Bult has taken on a new look after the opening of GoNow, with sidewalks and roads buzzing with the blue e-scooters that have become popular among students and locals since the company’s grand opening in late July. Although this alternative mode of transport has brought joy to many, its expansion to Potchefstroom comes only months after it faced regulatory challenges in Stellenbosch. While GoNow ensures that it has forged a new path through road regulations, its rapid expansion has left many questions unanswered. Despite its successful launch in Potchefstroom, GoNow has faced its share of struggles.

GoNow first launched in Stellenbosch in October 2020, but the municipality ordered the service to stop operating on the same day because of legal uncertainty surrounding e-scooters. The company returned to Stellenbosch in 2026, where the service quickly gained popularity before receiving another notice to suspend operations in March. In June, the municipality formally announced the suspension, citing safety concerns and uncertainty around the legal framework.

However, GoNow did not back down. Because of the lack of bylaws specifically designed for e-scooters and the legal uncertainty surrounding current road laws, the business persevered, using the slogan, “Move Stellenbosch forward, not backward.”

According to GoNow co-founder and CEO, Jacob Levitan, there has been a recent amendment to the National Road Traffic Act that now legally allows e-scooters on public roads, defining them under micro-mobility. “GoNow represents the future of local transport,” Levitan says. Levitan shares that GoNow’s goal is to address the “last-mile gap” in South Africa’s transport infrastructure while also providing a greener mode of transport.

The North-West University (NWU) has recognised these potential benefits, particularly regarding environmental sustainability and convenience for students and staff. “To date, the university has not approved the use of e-scooters on its premises,” says Louis Jacobs, Director of Corporate Communication and NWU spokesperson.

While GoNow‘s use on NWU premises remains unapproved, Ward Councillor Bertus le Roux said the company engaged with the JB Marks Mayoral Committee before launching in Potchefstroom. He said safety measures include geo-fenced parking zones, an 18 km/h speed limit, and monitoring by Mooirivier Protection.

However, despite the current campus ban, students, local security, and high school students have filled Die Bult with hundreds of e-scooters currently in use.

“Overall, it’s been a really fun experience!” first-year Industrial Psychology with Labour Relations student San-Mari van Biljon shares. Although many students recognise the service as a cheaper and more accessible mode of transport, during the first week after its launch, GoNow scooters were mostly used for leisure and fun. “They add some life to the student community,” says Kyle Bauermeister, a second-year Financial Mathematics student.

Although the scooters are more affordable, more enjoyable, and provide a new activity for Potchefstroom’s student culture, many students would still like to see greater clarity regarding the regulations governing their use. Questions around regulation remain, with GoNow citing recent amendments to the National Road Traffic Act as providing greater clarity, while le Roux said a local bylaw is still being developed.

Despite these challenges and the legal uncertainty, GoNow has become a noticeable part of student life. While discussions with the NWU regarding governance and procurement continue, the company’s popularity and impact on the student community continue to grow as it helps pave the way for the future of micro-mobility in South Africa.