Gauteng better managing licence renewals

Lockdown and poor bureaucracy have resulted in a serious backlog in driver licence renewals countrywide. Gauteng was particularly effected, but it appears that good progress has been made in getting through the applications.

According to MyBroadband, MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo expressed satisfaction with the progress over the last two weeks. 

“I am pleased with how the department and our partners have responded to the measures we have introduced. In just two weeks, we have substantially increased the number of available slots,” the MEC said on Monday during a meeting to assess the situation.

Over November, booking slots for drivers licence renewal increased to more than 80,000. This made it possible for more people to renew their licences.

In addition to making more slots available, drivers across the country have an extended grace period for licences that expired during the lockdown period.

All learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expired between March 26 and December 31 are deemed to be valid until August,31 2021.

“We, however, urge driver’s licence holders not to wait till the late hour to renew their driver’s licences,” Mamabolo said.

Picture: Leila Stein