Licence woes for local bikers
If you have a learners licence, you will not be able to do the test for your bike licence until October.
FOR almost three months the Richards Bay and Empangeni biking fraternity have not been able to undergo testing for motorcycle licences.
This according to concerned bikers who contacted the Zululand Observer, pleading for help.
One rider said she was given different explanations as to why she could not book a date to be tested.
‘I was told that there was no one qualified available to do the test. Then I was told that the equipment was faulty which made testing impossible.’
Her concern was that her learner licence is soon to expire, forcing her to write and pay for another learner’s test.
Technical difficulties
Empangeni Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) Station Commander Natie Ferreira confirmed that faulty equipment was the reason for the current delay.
‘We cannot conduct tests for bike licences at the moment as the faulty equipment has been sent away for repairs,’ said Ferreira.
‘The entire system is electronic, and it determines the next manoeuvre the rider must complete,’ he said.
‘Without this system, it is impossible for us to do the tests.’
He highlighted that Empangeni RTI services serve a massive area for bike and motor vehicle testing and is the only station in Zululand conducting tests for motorcyles.
Ferreira said the equipment problems were experienced over the past two months, but they were more than willing to accommodate people who urgently needed their licences before the equipment are returned.
‘These people must speak to us, If we are made aware of their need to have their licenses done, we can make alternative arrangements.’
Confusion
Apparently RTI requested a list from a Bay driving school of people whose learner’s licences would be expiring in the coming months, to assess the situation and attempt to make arrangements.
Ferreira said the list never materialised.
‘People are issued a bike learner’s licences valid for two years. Why come forward only now?
‘If your learner’s licence expires before our equipment is back up and running, you will have to rewrite the test. We will not refund or test anyone without a valid learner’s licence.’
According to Ferreira bookings can be made for the first week in October and a new RTI inspector would be starting work today (Monday) who is qualified to test bikers.
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