Scores of motorists have been left frustrated by the driving licence online booking system as they race against time to beat the cut-off grace period for all expired licences to be renewed.
Thousands of people have been rushing to licence testing centres across Gauteng in panic ahead of August 31 cut off period, leading to long queues at some centres and a rush to secure booking spots on the online system.
Some driving schools have also threatened to embark on protests over high demand for spots at various centres that created a huge backlog with renewals and testing of learner drivers.
Several motorists who waited in long queues at the Langlaagte drivers and learners licence testing centre in Johannesburg said the online booking system should be scrapped.
John Tshabalala, 48, of Pimville, Soweto, said it took him a month to secure a booking.
“It took me a whole month to get a date to renew my licence. The online app I was using gave me problems. I had to get my 28-year-old nephew to assist me. I had difficulties because I was told that one can only be able to get a date if they make a booking around 3am. This process was frustrating,” said Tshabalala.
His licence expired in June.
Some motorists, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the online booking system had left them frustrated.
“It takes us a long time to get a date. They should just allow walk-ins,” said one motorist.
Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane said the availability of booking spaces is determined by the managers of each licencing centre.
“The system simply makes the spaces available to the public. They [managers] take into account staff capacity and availability of equipment when they make spaces available. The system serves as an advertising board and platform to book the spaces that the managers have made available and approved,” said Zwane.
Zwane conceded that the demand for booking slots is above the available spots. “The situation has been impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. Right now we do not have exact figures readily available.”
Zwane could not say what will happen those who miss the cut off date for the grace period to renew expired licences. He said while there is no law that prohibits people from renewing their licences in other provinces or outside the district where they live, no one would be compelled to go far to renew. He said the government is looking at other options to assist people to comply.
But some licencing staff alleged that the centralised online booking system did not take into consideration staffing capacity when allocating slots, leading to long queues of frustrated motorists at some venues.
At the Maponya Mall licence testing station, scores of people who gathered there to renew their licences said they are worried that they will not be able to renew their licences by the cut-off date.
They said the online system is tedious.
“If I am struggling to get a booking in my own province where I stay, it will be difficult in another province because I have to pay for transport,” said one driver who didn't want to be named.
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