Licences: 'Expect heavy fines'

2003-03-07 08:11

Rajaa Azzakani

Johannesburg - Motorists who delay converting to the new card licence can expect harsh treatment and heavy fines from April, says the department of transport which has seen applications plummet since the deadline was extended.

Only 2 900 applications were processed on Thursday.

Road traffic management chief Lisa Mangcu told Beeld that fines of between R500 and R1 000 could be imposed on motorists who still failed to apply for the new licences, despite the deadline being extended.

Fines will fall within the period of grace granted by acting transport minister Jeff Radebe last Friday in Pretoria.

Mangcu said the number of licences that needed to be processed on Thursday should have been 31 000 to keep up with the 1 134 856 backlog that has to be processed within the next 32 working days.

The sloths must pay for lethargy

On Wednesday, only about 4 500 applications were processed compared to the 30 750 needing to be done to reach the target.

"Motorists who have failed to convert are putting extra pressure on our resources.

"The overtime we have to pay our staff, who worked extra hours last week, as well as equipment we have to provide has to be paid by the department.

"Procrastinators will have to start paying for their sloth. Latest figures suggest they are not taking our generosity seriously.

"They are not playing the game and we are expected to pick up the tab each time."

The Automobile Associations expressed surprise on Thursday at the department's latest move to impose fines within the period of grace.

"They extended the deadline. It makes no sense to consider fines ahead of the new deadline expiry," said the organisation's Petro Kruger.

She added the association had no problem with fines imposed from May 1, since they had encouraged their members to apply for the card licences in time.

- Beeld