Disappointment for visitors to Boksburg Licence Department

Vehicles queued outside the gate waiting to get inside the premises but security guards refused them entry

June 2, 2020

Ntombikayise Sibeko 2 minutes read

Motorists who were hoping to renew their driver licences, motor vehicle licences and permits at the Boksburg Licensing Department on June 1, were left confused when they found the department closed.

Vehicles queued outside the gate waiting to get inside the premises but security guards refused them entry and directed them to read a notice which was placed at the gate.

The notice read: “Ekurhuleni Licensing Services shall not be open to the public on June 1. The resumption of licensing services is subject to hygiene, disinfection control, social distancing and sanitizing measures. All the necessary measures must be put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19. The Gauteng Provincial Government must first inspect and approve compliance of licensing facilities on Covid-19 regulations.”

It further stated that the public will be notified and updated on June 5, in regard to the resumption of licensing services in Ekurhuleni. According to motorists, the reason that brought them to the department was that they heard the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, announcing that all Driving Licence Testing Centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools, will resume their services on 1 June, under Level 3.

Dawn Park resident Langa Gxashe, who is in the transporting industry said he was hoping to renew his Profession Driving Permit (PDP) because it had expired.

“Before the lockdown was instituted on March 27, I was here and they told us that we need to return after the lockdown. We were told that the services will resume on June 1 now they have rescheduled to June 5, without proper communication. My business depends on my PDP, since the licensing department halted their services my business can’t operate, I’m losing money every day,” Gxashe said.

According to a press release sent out by the Ekurhuleni Metro, it also confirms that the public will be notified on June 5.

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Metro spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, said: “City of Ekurhuleni is preparing to open its licensing centres as provided for in the Level 3 regulations for the lockdown. Currently, measures for hygiene, disinfection control, social distancing and sanitizing are being put in place.”

Validity period of licences: (Government Gazette No.43339 dated May 20):

* All learner’s licenses, driving licences, temporary driver’s licenses, motor vehicle license discs, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates and professional driving permits that expire during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity period is further extended with 90 days from 01 June 2020.

* Motor Trade number licenses that expire during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and are extended for a further grace period of six months from the date of publication of these directions.