Water and electricity disconnected at licensing and testing centres
The MEC for the KZN Department of Transport says he has been informed that the disconnection is over property rates.
WATER and electricity supply have been disconnected at various licensing and testing centres across Durban today.
However, the KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements has said that this was done despite bills having been settled.
The department said its MEC, Siboniso Duma, has tasked the head of the department (HOD) “to engage with her counterpart in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as well as eThekwini Municipality”, over the disconnection.
In a statement, the MEC said he has been informed that the disconnection is over property rates.
“It should be noted that Public Works and Infrastructure [PWI] provides and facilitates the provision of accommodation and integrated property management services to provincial government departments, including the Department of Transport.
“PWI is, therefore, responsible for the overall management of the payment of property rates on behalf of the Department of Transport as a tenant.
“In this regard, I have tasked our Acting Head of the Department, Sma Ngubo, to engage with her counterpart in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as well as in eThekwini Municipality,” said Duma.
The MEC urged his department, the PWI, and the municipality and other relevant departments to work collectively to ensure that service delivery is not interrupted.
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“In the meantime, we wish to indicate that in our RTI Pinetown Licensing and Testing Centre, we are currently using a generator to provide back-up power,” said Duma.
He added that the department is, however, concerned about the possible disruption of the following services:
- Conversion and registration of new number plates.
- New Learners and Driving tests.
- Renewals of drivers licences.
- Renewals of PRDPs and card collections.
According to the department, centres that have been affected are the following
- RTI Rossburgh Licensing and Testing.
- RTI Umdloti.
- Department of Transport Regional Office.
“We wish to apologise to the members of the public for any inconvenience.
“We apologise to all categories of staff who have been affected. We will do everything in our power to address this challenge.”
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