At least 500k licences not renewed as August deadline looms
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says it is worried about the slow response by motorists to renew their driver’s licenses as the August 31 deadline draws closer.
Drivers with licenses which expired between March 26 and December 31 last year were given a longer than usual grace period for renewal after the Covid-19 pandemic caused some disruptions.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane estimates that there are more than 500 000 learner licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving licences waiting to be renewed across the country.
“We know from previous experience that people are waiting for the last moment to come and renew but since January we have been advising people to make the necessary arrangements to renew those driving licences.
“We are making a final call now for people to make their arrangements and renew their licenses before the end of August.”
According to Zwane, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape are among the provinces battling with a low turnout for renewals.
“We’re looking at more than 500 000 in all provinces that have to come forward.”
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Zwane admits booking slots at some licensing centres are still hard to come by but vows plans are in place to increase capacity.
“We are aware of those problems. The problems that people are coming to now in this last moment - there is a high number of people looking for slots and the slots are limited. The slots are limited because we are still under Covid level 3 which means we’re working with a limited number of staff that are rotating in the centres and that limits the number of people that can be serviced at any given time.
“There is a process underway to maybe try and open other licensing centres so that there can be more places where people can renew their driving licences.”
He adds a forensic investigation is also underway to probe claims of corruption and fraud in the online booking system.
Listen to Zwane below:
