License centres open until 20:00
2009-07-15 21:04
Johannesburg - Certain licensing centres in Gauteng will stay open until 20:00, the provincial roads and public transport department said on Wednesday.
"This intervention seeks to enhance efforts aimed at reducing backlog and providing better and faster service to the public," spokesperson Kendridge Mathabathe said in a statement.
In addition, from August, members of the public would be able to complete processes like vehicle registrations, de-registrations and the renewal of licences at selected post offices.
Open on Sundays too
Two centres in the province were now open on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00, on Saturday from 08:00 to 19:00 and Sunday from 08:00 to 13:00.
Xavier Junction Testing Station, south west of Booysens, which tests light motor vehicles and motorcycles, is one of the night-owl stations.
The other is the Three Rivers Testing Centre in the Vaal region and tests heavy and light motor vehicles, as well as motorcycles.
"The department plans to unveil four more of these centres during this financial year."
At each of these centres, 32 driving tests are conducted a day and 150 people can sit for a learner's licence test.
Block bookings not accepted
The first port of call for making bookings remained the Gauteng Shared Service Centre. People then went to the licensing centres for confirmation before the tests took place.
"Centralisation has worked, since it prevents the selling of booking slots to members of the public by corrupt driving schools working in cahoots with some officials in these centres."
The department also said block bookings were not accepted.
"Anybody involved in block bookings will be acted upon without fear or favour."
- SAPA