Stellenbosch Halts GoNow Scooters After Minors Injured in Safety Crisis

Stellenbosch Municipality has issued a formal notice suspending GoNow electric scooter operations within its jurisdiction following reports that minors were injured while using the service. The suspension takes immediate effect, according to a municipal statement released on Tuesday. Local authorities confirmed the action comes after at least three children sustained injuries in separate incidents on university grounds and surrounding streets.

Safety Concerns Trigger Immediate Action

The municipality's notice states that GoNow failed to enforce age restrictions built into its terms of service. Riders are required to be eighteen years or older, yet the company continued operating without adequate verification measures. Officials in the Western Cape town said the scooters were freely accessible to anyone, including teenagers. A municipal spokesperson told local media that protecting vulnerable residents, particularly students, remains the top priority.

Business Operations Frozen Overnight

GoNow, which operates scooter rental schemes across several South African university campuses, must now cease all operations within Stellenbosch boundaries. The company has forty-eight hours to remove its entire fleet from public streets and university property. Any scooter remaining in circulation after the deadline will be confiscated and stored at municipal cost. The financial burden of fleet removal and potential storage fees falls entirely on GoNow, according to the notice.

Revenue Stream Disappears for GoNow

The suspension strikes a direct blow to GoNow's revenue in a key market. Stellenbosch represents one of the company's largest operational zones, serving thousands of students and residents. With the fleet frozen, the firm loses daily rental income from a customer base that relies on scooters for last-mile transport. Industry analysts suggest the company could lose an estimated several hundred thousand rand per week in lost bookings alone.

Stellenbosch University Reacts to Crisis

Stellenbosch University, which hosts one of GoNow's most active rental hubs, confirmed it is coordinating with municipal authorities regarding the suspension. The university campus spans multiple suburbs and sees heavy foot traffic from students who use scooters to commute between lecture halls and accommodation blocks. University management said it supports the municipality's decision and will assist in enforcing the ban on institutional property.

Micromobility Sector Faces Regulatory Reckoning

The GoNow suspension arrives at a sensitive moment for South Africa's micromobility industry. Investors have poured capital into electric scooter startups over the past five years, betting on strong demand from urban consumers. However, a series of safety incidents involving underage riders has drawn scrutiny from municipal authorities across the country. The Stellenbosch case may set a precedent for how local governments handle similar disputes elsewhere.

Economic Ripple Effects Spread Beyond Scooters

Beyond GoNow's immediate losses, the suspension raises broader questions about the economics of campus-based micromobility. Transport operators in university towns depend on steady student traffic to cover fleet maintenance and insurance costs. When municipalities impose sudden operational bans, companies face stranded assets and contracted insurance policies that do not cover suspension periods. Small-scale operators may struggle to absorb these costs without external funding.

What Comes Next for GoNow and Stellenbosch

GoNow has not indicated whether it will challenge the suspension through legal channels. The company must clear its scooters from Stellenbosch streets by the end of the week. Municipal officials said they remain open to reconsidering the ban if GoNow implements robust age verification technology and submits a revised safety plan for approval. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for early next month, when the company can present its case for reinstatement.