The FF Plus in Gauteng is satisfied with the instruction of the MEC for Public Transport and Road Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo, to licensing offices to allocate 70% of their bookings and capacity to the renewal of driver's licences as from this coming Monday so as to erase the backlog.
The party is, however, concerned about the execution of this plan seeing as the licensing offices in Gauteng are not only tasked with the renewal of driver's licences. They also have to use a great deal of their capacity for the renewal of motor vehicle licences, testing learner drivers, issuing driver's licences and testing vehicles' roadworthiness.
Increasing the capacity for one division will simply mean that other divisions will lose capacity, which will increase the number of vehicles and drivers without valid licences on our roads.
At present, local licensing offices are only allowed to assist a limited number of people due to the Covid-19 lockdown regulations. In Krugersdorp, for example, only 24 people may complete their learner licence test on any given day.
Covid-19 has had a great impact on the backlog with the renewal of motor vehicle and driver's licences and, thus, the party welcomes the fact that the economy is being opened up again.
The FF Plus will request the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile, to increase the office hours of local councils' licensing offices, to ensure that all available personnel are working and to open these offices to the public on Saturdays. Provincial offices are open seven days a week.
