Driver’s licences and renewals still face backlog
Reports have started trickling in of some licence cards being received, so it appears that the situation may be slowly returning to normal.
Drivers trying to comply with the traffic laws by keeping their licences up to date are facing an uphill battle.
For months now, applicants – including those visiting the Umzinto Licensing Department and Test Centre – have reported that they had not received their driver’s licence cards after passing their tests. Those renewing their licences were faced with the same problem.
The delay has been caused by the backlog created when workers at the Driving License Card Account (DLCA), responsible for printing all licence cards in the country, went on strike in the middle of last year. Although workers have resumed production, there is a significant backlog which is expected to take some time to clear.
The situation is all the more frustrating as those who have been issued temporary licences in the interim have waited so long that these are now expiring. Many have shared their experiences on social media and have visited the Mail offices to speak out.
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Adding to the backlog, the Umzinto Licensing Department’s systems are said to be offline often, making it difficult for staff to process applications. After speaking to a member of the Umzinto Licensing Department, it was confirmed that their systems have now been updated and that they are once again fully functional.
Licensing falls under the Department of Transport (DoT), and Umdoni operates the service under an agreement with the DoT.
A portion of the fees charged are paid to the department, with Umdoni keeping the balance to cover expenses.
Driver’s licence applications are handled by Umdoni, where they are captured on the system before the documentation is sent to the service provider appointed by the DoT for the licence cards to be printed.
From there, the cards are couriered back to Umdoni for distribution to applicants.
Complaints about the Umzinto Licensing Department included rude staff, offline systems and alleged corruption at the testing grounds.
“The service is run very badly and if it does not improve I will set up a petition to get DoT to take it back and appoint a competent party to operate the service,” said DA Councillor Eddie Baptie.
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The Department of Transport and Umdoni were contacted for comment, which is awaited.
Reports have started trickling in of some licence cards being received, so it appears that the situation is slowly returning to normal.
If you would like to track the status of your application, SMS your ID number to 33214. The Umzinto Licensing Department and Test Centre can also be contacted at 039-9741120.
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