Government, driving school operators establish driving schools council
“The negotiation table is the only mechanism we can use to resolve problems.”
It was hoped that the creation of a new negotiating council on Monday would iron out the issues between driving school operators and the government, which led to the shutdown of several driver licence centres.
This comes after protests by driving school operators against a new online booking system they fear would cut them out as middlemen, hurting their businesses.
These protests led to driver licence testing centres being closed not only in Tshwane but the rest of Gauteng as well.
“The negotiation table is the only mechanism we can use to resolve problems,” said roads and transport department MEC Jacob Mamabolo.
“This, for us, is the only mechanism that can resolve even the most complex difficulties and problems.”
The creation of the new council was agreed upon by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, the National Driving School Association of South Africa (NDSASA) in Gauteng and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
Called the Gauteng driving schools council, its creation came about after several meetings in March.
The council would be a platform for the three parties to collaborate, discuss and negotiate among each other in “good faith”.
The council is a voluntary body comprising not only the three parties, but also any other driving school associations and individual schools.
It would also, among others, develop and launch a database for all driving school associations in the province.
“We can resolve the most complex problems by talking – not through violence and intimidation,” Mamabolo said.
Licensing centres in the metro reopened on Wednesday, March 9, after a strike by the NDSASA that kicked off on February 24.
Last week, Tshwane roads and transport MMC Dikeledi Selowa said they were committed to ensuring that residents received services without any further interruptions.
Selowa said that they were defending the rule of law after the provincial roads and transport department obtained a court interdict against the protesters.
The metro also followed suit and applied for its own interdict against the NDSASA.
ALSO READ: Driving school protest brings service at Tshwane licensing centres to a halt
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