Minister Mbalula tackles Gauteng traffic department issues

By Kaya 959 News

Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, met with Gauteng MEC for Transport and Gauteng licensing authorities in a bid to tackle the issues of unlicensed drivers and general issues of driving in the province.

Mbalula said the objectives of the meeting was to take stock of the challenges and agree on decisive interventions that effectively address the challenges facing Gauteng and its DLTCs, managed by local authorities.

He said the difficulties experienced by citizens in booking slots through the online platform is serious cause for concern.

“We are gravely concerned that preliminary investigations suggest that corruption is the principal driver of lack of availability of booking slots in various Driving Licence Testing Centres across Gauteng,” he said.

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Practical expression at Gauteng DLTCs

To this end, Mbalula said MEC Jacob Mamabolo has addressed sharply with local authorities in the province.

“We are firmly behind the MEC’s interventions and we are bringing our collective weight to bear in ensuring that these find practical expression at all DLTCs in Gauteng,” the Transport Minister said.

He said the RTMC, working closely with provincial and local authorities, is looking into the matter and the interventions must deliver a system that improves efficiency, eliminates corruption and more importantly, modernise processes so as to eliminate the need for end-users to queue at DLTCs.

He said post the engagements, his office will unpack the modalities of these interventions and commit to firm timelines on the rollout.

Too many people dying on SA roads

Mbalula said since coming into office, he has been emphatic about arresting carnage on the country’s roads. He said this has been one of his top priorities.

“Too many people die on our roads due to, amongst others, reckless behaviour by motorists. Unlicensed drivers and those driving with fraudulent licences compound this problem,” he said.

Mbalula said DLTCs provide an important service to our motorists, as they are an important support system to enable mobility.

He added that the onset of the coronavirus pandemic laid bare these challenges, most of which are a consequence of corruption in the system.

“The additional pressure brought to bear by Covid-19 has amplified these challenges and requires us to move with speed and deliberate focus in addressing these. We have taken heed of the plethora of complaints by members of the public and we are taking decisive action to address the issues raised,” Mbalula said.

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Vehicle licence discs expiry date

He added that as the lead agency, the RTMC is central in our interventions not only because it is the custodian of the eNatis system, but also because it is mandated to bring coherence to the traffic management value chain across all spheres of government.

The department has extended the validity of vehicle licence discs, temporary permits and roadworthy certificates which expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to 31 May 2020 for a period that ended on 31 August 2020.

This period has not been extended beyond this date and motorists are expected to comply with the law and renew their vehicle licence discs.

Validity of learner’s license, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expired during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to 31 December 2020, was extended for a further period that ending on 31 August 2021.

Main image credit: Facebook/ Fikile Mbalula

Written by: Tamlyn

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