Mobile kiosks at drivers licence centres for those without internet
Department worried corruption might be behind the lack of availability of learner and driver licensing booking slots at centres in the province.
New self-service kiosks would be introduced to driver licence testing centres to address growing complaints by members of the public about being unable to access the internet.
“The difficulties experienced by citizens in booking online is a cause for concern,” said transport minister Fikile Mbalula on Friday.
Mbalula said the intervention was much-needed at centres in Gauteng since the Covid-19 pandemic “laid bare challenges such as corruption” in the system.
His department was gravely concerned that preliminary investigations suggested that corruption was behind the lack of availability of learner and driver licensing booking slots at centres in the province.
The self-service kiosks will be implemented at centres and mobile kiosks at public spaces by the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
“This will enable access to the booking system for people who do not have internet. The deployment of mobile units must be fast-tracked. Support infrastructure must also be made available.”
Mbalula said his department will expedite the introduction of online payments to minimise the exchange of cash.
He said this would help in dealing with corruption and improving revenue collections for centres.
Mbalula said operating hours to address backlogs because of the lockdown should be standardised from 08:00 to 16:00 and must open for business on Saturdays.
Centres also needed to upgrade the live enrolment units and speedily address the eNatis as well as implement SMSes to alert motorists of expiring licenses.
In addressing the backlogs arising as consequence of the COVID-19 restrictions during different Alert levels, operating hours for DLTCs occupies the spotlight and requires our immediate attention, while remaining alive to basic conditions of employment, which includes overtime. pic.twitter.com/ayI86gzfLm
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) April 30, 2021
Currently in Gauteng, 250 000 licence disks needed to be renewed.
According to Mbalula, a total of 239 087 vehicles were on the road without valid licence discs.
As a consequence, we 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. pic.twitter.com/iHghW4plHZ
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) April 30, 2021
Mbalula said the transport department had noted the measures introduced by the Gauteng roads and transport department in mitigating the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact.
“We will look at the challenges relating to eye testing and related infrastructure,” he said.
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