A backlog in the issuing of drivers licence cards has meant that motorists have had to spend money on temporary licences to avoid being fined.
The last batch of card licences arrived at the Dundee testing station on April 24.
“We received around 600 in one go after the last batch in March. Normally, the cards used to arrive in manageable quantities so that motorists did not have to wait,” said Walter du Plessis of the testing station.
He apologised to motorists – some of whom have been waiting since March – for their renewals and/or new cards.
The problem is nationwide following the Transport Department’s termination of their contract with an independent and politically-connected company, Prodiba, who for years have had the job in Pretoria of producing the card licences.
The contract was formally cancelled in May but by then a backlog had developed since the beginning of the year as it is believed that Prodiba were not paid by the Transport Department. The Transport Department is now producing the cards themselves,
Japie Mbele of the Transport Department would tell the Courier that ‘the Department is aware of the problem and is attending to the matter. The Department apologises for inconvenience caused.’
He had no idea when the issue would be rectified but in another statement received by the Courier, Azwi Managa of the Driving Licence Card Account under the Transport Department, said ‘we are dealing with the matter’.
“We anticipate the delivery of cards to be back to normal turn-around time of 21 days before August 1. Motorists who are applying for their cards should be able to collect these in six to eight weeks.”