PLUMTREE Town Council has promulgated by-laws that ban residents from cycling without a permit or licence, in what critics say is reminiscent of the colonial era.
Plumtree Town Council through Statutory Instrument 144 of 2025 [Chapter 29:15], Plumtree Town (Cycle Licensing) By-laws, 2025 stipulates that cyclists must apply for cycle licences.
“No person shall use on any road within the council area any cycle which is ordinarily kept within the area unless it has been licensed in terms of these by-law.
“The application for a cycle licence under these by-laws shall be made by the owner of the cycle to the licensing official and shall be accompanied by the receipt or letter from whom the cycle is bought or obtained, name, address, make and manufacturers' number, if any, of such cycle, the licence fees specified in the first schedule and when required, the applicant shall exhibit the cycle for which a licence is required at the office of the licensing official,” the new by-laws say.
The by-laws state that in respect of every cycle, the licensing official issues to the applicant a licence signed by the licensing official.
It also includes a description of the cycle to which the licence relates, the manufacturer's number on the cycle, the council registration number, the number of the cycle licence with a distinctive mark, the receipt number and period of validity.
“On the 1st of January in each year the owner of a cycle which is ordinarily kept and used on any road within the council area shall obtain a licence for the cycle.
“The period of validity of every licence shall terminate on 31 December in the year of issue. The licensing official shall issue a serialised cycle licence,” it says.
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The by-laws also stipulate that every bicycle owner should firmly affix to the cycle a licence in respect of which it is issued, in such a position and such manner as is prescribed by these by-laws.
On the duplicate cycle licence or token, the by-laws state that if a token issued is lost or destroyed, the owner of the cycle to which it relates shall forthwith apply to the licensing official for a duplicate cycle licence or token.
On the sale or change of ownership of any cycle, council said the person selling or disposing of the cycle shall deliver the relative cycle licence to the new owner.
It said the new owner should register the change of ownership at the office of the licensing official within 14 days and should be accompanied by a police clearance and transfer fees prescribed by council from time to time.
The by-laws mandate an “authorised person to stop any cycle on any road for the purpose of inspecting a cycle licence or token and to ensure that the provisions of these by-laws are not contravened”.
It said an impounded cycle removed to a secure compound shall be released to the owner upon payment of the prescribed penalty and storage charges set by the council.
According to the new law, the council cancels a certificate if the holder is penalised for any contravention of the provisions of these by-laws.
On the disposal of unclaimed cycles, the council said it would publish in a newspaper of wide-circulation within the council area a list of unclaimed cycles which have been in its custody for one month.
“Money realised from the sale of unclaimed cycles shall be deposited into any account of council,” it said.
According to these by-laws, no person should use or cause or permit to be used on any road within the council area any cycle which is required to be licensed unless the cycle has a valid token.
