Nelson Mandela Bay residents wanting to make appointments for their learner’s or driving licence tests will have to brave the long queues at the traffic department for a while longer.
This comes after safety and security political head John Best said he was still waiting for the provincial department of transport to finalise the online booking system.
The long queues have frustrated motorists for years and, now with Covid-19, residents fear contracting the virus.
Best said he was hopeful the online system would be up and running soon.
“In the meantime, you have to present yourself at the driving licence centre to make an appointment.
“We understand your frustration with waiting in long queues; hence, we extended the working hours in the morning and Saturday to accommodate the backlog,” Best said.
The traffic department offices open daily at 7am and close at 4.30pm, but at 4pm on Saturdays.
Residents this week complained that when they got to the traffic department early in the morning, they were greeted by a queue of already about 60 people.
A frustrated Gelvandale man said he had arrived with his son at the Korsten traffic department at about 5am and by 11.30am he had not even have his eye test for his learner’s licence appointment yet, and the office closed for sanitising at noon.
Best said on average on a daily basis 100 driving licence renewals were done at the Korsten office, 60 learner’s licence applications, 95 card collections and 16 driving licence tests.
“Sanitising is done three times a day. In the morning before we open, from 12pm to 1pm and when our doors close.”
He said the 22 permanent workers, four interns and two workers on the extended public works programme (EPWP) at the Korsten traffic department split into two groups to work two shifts.
At the Uitenhage traffic department there are 11 permanent staffers, one intern and one worker on theEPWP.
On the question of adequate equipment at the two traffic department offices, Best said Korsten had eight and Uitenhage three machines to do the required eye tests.
“Having more machines will not make any difference due to the Covid-19 protocols. Only a certain number of people will be allowed into the building at any given time,” he said.
Best said drivers whose licences had expired could go to a driving licence centre and make bookings for a renewal while they were queuing or could make bookings telephonically.
“Due to challenges experienced with the telephonic booking system, I approached the provincial transport department to roll-out an online booking system.
“Fortunately, there is relief for drivers whose licences expired within the time frame from March 26 2020 to December 31 2020. It is gazetted that their licences will be deemed valid until August 31 2021, giving them more time to renew them.”
Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, said he was not aware of Best’s request.
“However, I do know that Eastern Cape department of transport took an initiative to apply to both the MEC and RTMC (Road Traffic Management Corporation) seeking approval for the province to take the route of online booking for both leaners and drivers.
“[The] MEC approved it [and] we are now awaiting approval and formal process to be followed from RTMC.”
HeraldLIVE
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